Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assume the Deputy is referring to Galway 2020. The Government has committed €15 million towards the funding of Galway 2020 as European City of Culture. As outlined in my response to Question No. 21 of 21 June 2018, the Department provided a first tranche of funding in 2017 amounting to €250,000 to Galway 2020 towards certified expenditure incurred by Galway 2020.

A performance delivery agreement to set out the mutual responsibilities of Galway 2020 and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and the terms of the drawdown of the funds under the agreement, is being progressed by officials in the Department. They are working closely with the Galway 2020 team to put in place the agreement, as well as support it in its work to deliver a strong culture programme in 2020. In this regard, officials from the Department will be meeting senior management from Galway 2020 next week and I expect that the agreement will be signed this month.

The stepping down of the creative director in May and, more recently, the chief executive officer, CEO, has been a cause for concern. I will talk to the Deputy in the supplementary replies about the new chief executive who has been appointed. This has created uncertainty around the mechanisms for the delivery phase of the project and did not assist the finalisation of the performance delivery agreement. I and the officials are engaging on an ongoing basis to assist in resolving the current difficulties.

In this regard I met the chairperson of the Galway 2020 board on 13 September to discuss recent developments, including the stepping down of the CEO, who has only today been replaced, and cultural leadership plans. I advised the chairperson that I wish to see the leadership matters resolved as quickly as possible in order that Galway 2020 can move forward to focus on the delivery of what is an ambitious and exciting programme for the year. While I share the concern regarding the recent difficulties, I am confident that the issues can be resolved. Significant public resources are being provided for this year.

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