Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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4. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether an imaginative programme can be rolled out by Galway 2020 as the city celebrates the title of European City of Culture; and her further views on whether it was the right decision not to have an open call for additional projects for the 2020 programme. [16485/19]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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This question is on the supposed imaginative programme we were hoping to see as part of Galway 2020. Was the right decision made in not having an open call for additional projects for the Galway 2020 programme? I ask that given the debacle in planning we have seen so far.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Galway 2020's ambition is to deliver an artistic and cultural programme that will exceed expectations and leave a lasting legacy for Galway city and county. Artichoke, under the leadership of Helen Marriage, was appointed in January 2019 to deliver the creative directorship role for the project. Artichoke is well known globally for the successful delivery of large-scale and unique cultural events and performances and has a proven track record in programming, funding and audience development. This expertise and creativity will be brought to bear in an imaginative programme for Galway 2020.

The Government has committed €15 million towards the funding of Galway 2020 as the European Capital of Culture. The terms and conditions for the provision of the funding are set out in a performance delivery agreement between my Department and Galway 2020. The agreement addresses the roles and responsibilities of the Department and Galway 2020 in the provision and expenditure of the grant, as well as the key deliverables and performance indicators attached to the drawdown of the grant, and the monitoring and reporting arrangements in place.

On 31 January 2019, my Department received the first management and auditors' report under the performance delivery agreement from Galway 2020, in advance of a monitoring meeting with the company the following week. The management report sets out the progress made by Galway 2020 in recent months, including the appointment of a new chief executive, the appointment of new board members, the board and audit committee meetings held, the periodic reviews of risks undertaken, the progress on the development of the cultural programme including the European dimension, community engagement, staffing and the development of the partnership and monitoring and evaluation programmes.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Galway 2020 has just announced an exciting open call for communities to develop projects for the cultural programme for Galway 2020 as the European Capital of Culture. Funding of €200,000 will be awarded by Galway 2020 across the successful community groups to create and deliver thrilling projects that could transform their communities. These projects will form an integral part of the cultural programme for 2020.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister will have more to time to expand on that. I call Deputy Ó Snodaigh.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is welcome news that there is an open call. I question whether that fund of €200,000 will be enough to address existing needs. Will many of the artists and practitioners of the arts in Galway, who were left out of Galway 2020, be able to avail of it? Their contributions will help to leave a lasting legacy. My other concern is that the budget thus far has been heavily reliant on the State and local authorities. There has always been an expectation in every European Capital of Culture that a substantial amount of private funding will be attracted. Is the Minister happy with the level of private sponsorship secured to date for the projects and for the roll-out of Galway 2020?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I am satisfied that Galway 2020 is progressing well with developing an imaginative and effective European Capital of Culture programme and look forward to a successful and impactful year that will serve to highlight further the vibrant and diverse cultural offering both in Galway and in Ireland as a whole. I believe we will deliver that with the finances available. The total project investment for 2020 is €37.9 million. Turning to sponsorship in general, Ms Patricia Philbin, the former chief executive officer, CEO, of Galway County Council, is very enthusiastic and confident that the total target of €7 million will be achieved. The total received in sponsorship was €133,477 as of 31 December. There is still a ways to go but we are confident it will be achieved. Other funding is available, as Deputy Ó Snodaigh mentioned. Galway City Council is providing €3.9 million, Galway County Council is providing €2 million, the Government is providing €15 million and there is also EU funding of about €1.5 million. The sponsorship mentioned by Deputy Snodaigh has that target of €7 million. Other local and regional authorities are providing €900,000 and there will also be other non-direct funding of €9.7 million.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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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?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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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.