Ms Máire Logue:

I will answer a few of the basic questions Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell and Deputy Smyth asked about staff numbers, public funding and so on. Listowel Writers' Week has one full-time member of staff who works year-round. We have two part-time members of staff and a community employment worker. That is how our office works. We have no consultants; we do everything in-house, including all our marketing and PR. Regarding public funding, our annual budget is between €250,000 and €280,000, with €280,000 being the highest target. We received Arts Council funding this year of €75,000, which comprised a very minor increase. Obviously, we are grateful for everything we receive. Fáilte Ireland gave us €30,000, which is part of a three-year plan we have with the body. Kerry County Council gave us €10,500, and Foras na Gaeilge and the Irish Prison Service gave us €4,000. We must therefore find and secure €170,000 ourselves. We do this through sponsorship, patronage and our ticket sales. That is our current position. It is very straightforward. We are the same not-for-profit. Two years ago, we did not make a profit; we ran at a loss. Therefore, we must build the festival up again. Last year was an excellent year, and this year has been very good, so we are okay this year.

Our only involvement with Creative Ireland has been through Kerry County Council in attending information meetings and so on. We did not receive any funding from Creative Ireland. We have worked with the Seanchaí history museum in Listowel in putting together its Fighting Words programme. That has been our only connection with Creative Ireland. Our main connection is with the Arts Council. For us, as a small core team, applications and administration of this is-----