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

As I explained to the previous Deputy, the issue of appointments was a matter for the city council. Programming was a matter for the artistic director and the CEO. From the beginning, I had no involvement and our Department manages the funding and insures everything is done in a proper fashion. We are completing a service level agreement with Limerick City Council to ensure that. It will be subject to the examination of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform so everything will be done in the correct manner. As regards the original designation set out in 2016, the huge financial contribution meant it could be difficult from a budgeting point of view. Also, there would not be a long enough run-in for preparation. The year 2014 was designated because Limerick sought it as a result of the change in governance. I mentioned Limerick as an ideal city because of the vibrancy of the arts but the Limerick regeneration implementation group, chaired by Denis Brosnan, made a very strong proposal. Some people questioned whether it was done on a whim but it was done on the back of a very good proposal from Limerick that linked culture, arts, community and economic activity. It is a prototype for other cities. In the future, it will give cities a chance and we will look for applications. Hopefully I will announce the next city of culture at the end of the year. It will give people the chance to plan the future.

Limerick sees this as preparation for the European city of culture, which will be in Ireland in 2020. It is ideal preparation and is bigger than the designation as national city of culture. For the other cities, it will be part of their preparation to try to be the European city of culture.

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