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

I do not expect there to be a shortfall. There is an EU monitoring panel for Galway 2020 which has implemented many of the recommendations made by the panel, aside from the performance delivery agreement into which my Department has entered with Galway 2020. The recommendations include the recruitment of new cultural leadership; the progression of the European dimension of the programme which includes a partnership with EUREKA 2020; capacity building programmes with EU partners in Germany, Austria and Belgium; the completion of partnerships for 31 EU artists; a review of the organisational structure; and the development of a communications strategy to include tourism and volunteer programmes, as well as city and county road shows early in 2019 and during the year. It is also working with NUIG on the evaluation and monitoring mechanisms, all of which are important to ensure we will have a really vibrant and fantastic year-long celebration of Galway 2020. There will be street spectacles, exhibitions, readings, concerts, dance school projects, children's events, musical performances, digital encounters, live art, theatre, circus, public art, heritage and food events. I could go on forever. It is going to be a wonderful programme which we are very confident will be a success.

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