Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the project. A few years ago, I met the people who are running the project, which is excellent. It brings the arts out to where it should be, on a very important island. It is disappointing and I am disappointed that the arrangement where we matched funds with the local authority is threatened. We are still prepared to do that and we want to do that. My colleague, Senator Tim Lombard, has contacted me about this recently and I know that Deputy Collins has raised it in the Dáil several times. The AGM of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann will be on Sherkin Island in a number of weeks. If there is anything we can do during that event, or as a side event, or if we can organise officials from the local authority in Cork to be there, my officials will be happy to do that. The Department's officials have had meetings in an effort to do something but there is a block somewhere. I do not know where it is. Deputy Collins may be more privy to that information at a local level, but if there is anything we can do, we will because it is an excellent project. It would be a retrograde step if it were not to go ahead.