Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister that Galway is best placed to deliver a welcome as the European Capital of Culture 2020. I say that given the range of artists living in the city. If an imaginative project was in place with proper funding, State and public, I would then be happy to rely on that approach. There is a long way to go, however, given only some €133,000 has been identified from the target of €7 million in private sponsorship.

The Minister's Fine Gael Party colleague, Councillor Padraig Conneely, has been very critical of that aspect, in particular. There needs to be more than just a wish to achieve the target because a shortfall of €7 million will undermine the entire project. Given that we are less than a year away, what steps can the Minister take to ensure private funding will be found? It is key to the project. Will the State have to step in to match the shortfall figure?

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