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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 5 together.

As Deputies will be aware, the Government approved an allocation in the budget of €6 million to Limerick City of Culture 2014. While the original aspiration was to have a national city of culture designation every two years, it became clear, however, that it would not be feasible to make a similar resource commitment again as soon as 2016. It is the intention, therefore, that the next city of culture will held in 2018. It is envisaged that a call for proposals from cities, including Waterford, will issue later in the year, following which a selection process will take place to select the next national city of culture.

I wish to advise the Deputies that the selection criteria for the designation of city of culture will include the following elements: an emphasis on the arts, culture, heritage and the Irish language in the location, scale and attractiveness of the programme of events planned for the designation year; community involvement in the planning of the programme of events, with a preference for a bottom-up approach which seeks to unite cultural and socioeconomic stakeholders in a common project, together with a focus on bringing communities together to work towards a shared vision; a programme to increase participation in the arts by local residents; the involvement of local schools in the arts and in the programme for the year of culture; the capacity to foster creativity; the city's ability to maximise its existing infrastructure and facilities to the benefit of the arts; and the lasting and positive impact on the location long into the future.

Regarding Limerick City of Culture 2014, the appointment of an interim head and the broadening of the city of culture board to include local authority and arts community representatives have been important and welcome steps in ensuring the designation will be a success for Limerick.

I have great confidence in the local organisations, the arts community and the people of Limerick to work together to make this a success. More than 100 events are scheduled to take place in the first quarter of this year and, as Deputies are aware, significant funding is in place. The keystone events so far - the opening concert on New Year's Eve, the Riverdance performances, the Michael Warren exhibition and the Haselbeck photography exhibition - have been hugely popular and critical successes. I believe that this bold and confident artistic start to the year can continue, and when Limerick is judged by its programme for the year, it will be seen to have exceeded all expectations.

My officials and I remain in contact with the local authority and the other key stakeholders. I am confident that, working together, these partners can ensure the best of Limerick is showcased to a national and international audience this year and that an enduring and positive legacy for arts and culture in Limerick is the primary outcome of the year.

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