Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am disappointed that such a relatively small amount, €13 million or €14 million, to establish the Gathering cannot be found through the provsion of an additional measure. The Department has a limited amount of funding and is strapped in the support it gives to festivals and artistic endeavours within communities. The establishment and continuation of these events, as I know from the events in which I have been involved, are dependent on funding available in the current round. Anything that would inhibit these events from continuing to receive funding would have a detrimental impact on economic activity within the tourism sector. While the Gathering might ultimately do good work, I hope it will not be at the expense of existing initiatives. I appeal, therefore, to the Minister to try to find funding through whatever cost savings can be made at administration level, rather than taking money from small village groups.

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