Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

16. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of Galway 2020; the amount paid to Galway 2020 to date in 2020; the way in which the funding has been spent; the conditions that will be attached to further allocations, including the reappointment of an Irish language officer; the status of the performance delivery agreement between her Department and Galway 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17298/20]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Baineann mo cheist le Gaillimh 2020. Tá soiléiriú á lorg agam ó thaobh an caiteachas go dtí an lá inniu agus an caiteachas ata beartaithe ag an Roinn.

My question is about Galway 2020 and I want an update on how much money the Department has given to date, how it has been spent, how much money is promised for the future, what conditions, if any, are attached to that future money, in particular, the re-employment of an Irish language officer, and an update on the performance delivery agreement. Go raibh maith agat.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Galway 2020, like so many cultural and artistic organisations around Ireland and, indeed, the world, has been deeply impacted, with a significant number of events cancelled or postponed. On 29 April last, Galway 2020 received approval from my predecessor to re-engage with the cultural partners from the original winning bid for the European Capital of Culture to explore the options for project delivery in the context of the evolving public health situation.

On 10 July, following consideration and review, I approved a reimagined cultural programme for Galway 2020. While the reimagined programme is scaled down compared with that originally planned, it will still see more than 350 Irish artists work on the delivery of a range of projects covering the broad spectrum of art forms and addressing the varied sectors of society, including children, youth and older people, the Traveller community, people with intellectual and sensory disabilities and hospital patients.

As part of the approval I have made it a requirement that all projects comply fully with public health advice and that all stakeholders remain informed on the evolving public health situation and employ appropriate contingency measures with regard to project delivery. There will also be close monitoring by both Galway 2020 and my Department of the progress on all projects.

As the Deputy can appreciate, Galway 2020 has incurred significant reductions in its staffing levels over recent months due to the pandemic, with only seven full-time equivalent staff members remaining. Notwithstanding this, the Irish language remains one of the three central themes of Galway 2020, and seven of the 28 approved projects are either solely in the Irish language or fully bilingual. While I understand it was not possible to retain an Irish language officer, Galway 2020 will be engaging with Irish language organisations on a plan it will devise for the community as part of its delivery of the programme.

The Government commitment of €15 million to Galway 2020 remains in place with an allocation of €7.1 million in 2020, of which €2.819 million has been paid to date. As per the terms of the performance delivery agreement between the Department and Galway 2020, funding has been spent on cultural programming, programme production staffing costs and costs associated with the operation of the Galway 2020 volunteer programme.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for answering comprehensively on the general running of Gaillimh 2020, but I am not sure how much money has actually been spent from the Department's allocation. Galway 2020 has certainly suffered from Covid-19 and bad weather, but prior to that there were serious issues with regard to governance and non-inclusivity. We spoke about this on the Committee of Public Accounts, and there was a lesson to be learned from the previous debacle with regard to the Pálás Cinema. I understood that a monitoring agreement was set up. Are the reports available publicly from that monitoring process? What money is now planned to be given and what conditions will be attached separately from public health concerns? I am more concerned at this point as to who will be involved and the inclusivity, and how come, in a bilingual city on the edge of or that is the gateway to the biggest Gaeltacht in the country, there is no Irish language officer.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government has committed €15 million to the project. Of this, €6.9 million was paid in 2017 and 2019. A total of €7.1 million is committed for 2020, of which, €2.82 million has been drawn to date. The €1 million balance from the commitment is due for payment in 2021. Galway City Council has committed €6 million in total to the project. A total of €2.2 million of this was expanded during the bid phase, resulting in a commitment of €3.848 million for the delivery phase. A total of €3.117 million of this commitment has been paid to date. As a result of the severe impact on revenue streams of the city council, the future funding situation is uncertain. Galway County Council has committed €3.5 million with an additional €500,000 earmarked for legacy initiatives in the county.

Galway 2020 has cash-sponsored commitments of €968,000, with €398,000 paid to date. Having received approval to resume the programme, Galway 2020 will re-engage with all sponsors to establish if they wish to continue with sponsorship in light of the changed environment. Galway 2020 has sold €83,000 in ticketing prior to the Covid-19 crisis. A total of €55,000 has been refunded for cancelled or postponed events. Should the programme resume, tickets will be sold again. Otherwise, further refunds will be issued.

It is time-limited but I will get my officials to write to the Deputy on that issue and on the conditions.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I very much appreciate that and, indeed, theoretically, that it was declared the cultural capital of Europe was the best news story for Galway. There is no point going back on the history of it, but certainly serious mistakes were made.

At this point, I find it difficult that in a bilingual city on the edge of the biggest Gaeltacht in the country we have let go of the Irish language officer. I would have though that would have been pivotal. We had to fight a battle for the appointment of that officer. Perhaps 1 April was a bad day to make that appointment last year, but that is the date it was made.

We also had to fight a battle to get a legacy committee to get Galway 2020 to look at what legacy would be left. In that regard, what has happened with An Post in Galway and the wonderful building that is lying empty in the middle of the city with wonderful possibilities for the arts? Sin uimhir a haon, agus uimhir a dó: what is the total private sponsorship raised by Galway 2020?

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Regarding the Irish language officer, I did not get an opportunity in the previous time I had to address it, and I am very aware that the Gaeltacht is under my remit. I am sure the Deputy is aware that I am genuinely committed to the promotion and use of our native tongue. It is so unfortunate that the Irish language officer, Ms Freda Nic Giolla Chatháin, who was fantastic, has been made redundant due to the financial and operational constraints. I am conscious of that strong Irish language theme and will re-engage with Galway 2020 and discuss this further with the board, because I am genuinely committed to the promotion of Galway. As Deputy Connolly said, it is a bilingual city and I will see what I can do on that.

I will get back to the Deputy with further details regarding the two other questions. I will get my officials to write to Deputy Connolly.