Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I suggest the Deputy should ask the people of Youghal to make a submission to the Department or the trust. It is important that a submission be made. I will give some figures for Culture Night 2010 to demonstrate the spread of funding across the country. A sum of €10,000 was given to the organisers of Culture Night in Carlow, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Oughterard, Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. There has been a very good spread across the country. It is increasing in popularity. I encourage more communities to get involved and participate in Culture Night, which makes a major impact. It will take place this year on Friday, 23 September. I suggest we should do something here in the Dáil to celebrate and recognise Culture Night. Before last Christmas, I was one of many Deputies from all parties who were involved in the organisation of a successful charity art exhibition that raised a substantial amount of money for Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. I suggest we might try to organise an event in the Dáil to mark this year's Culture Night.

I assure Deputy McLellan that the guidelines and criteria are quite flexible. An emphasis has been placed on participation to encourage communities to get involved in Culture Night. Funding is available to those who present good proposals. As the broadest definition of "culture" is used on Culture Night, it can involve Irish traditional music, song and dance, etc. Obviously it has to be culturally driven. If there is a good spread and a good mix of applications, most of them will be successful. I advise the Deputy to ensure an application is made on behalf of Youghal to the Department or Temple Bar Cultural Trust as soon as possible. I can give her the contact details if she wishes.

See this speech in context