Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I seek assurance from the Minister that those making a pitch for 2018 will have a bottom-up approach and that we will look at communities, including schools and the arts community, being actively involved. Then, we can see a coming together on the ground of all the players making a pitch for this valuable initiative that highlights the culture and heritage and provides a platform to the arts community. That has an intrinsic value but what flows from it is the added socio-economic benefit. Can we be assured that is what will happen?

I lend my support to Deputy Halligan's comments. Cities like Waterford have been devastated by economic disadvantage in recent times and that should be weighed in the balance as well.

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