Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the details of the annual budgets expended by the cities designated as European City of Culture since the instigation of this designation; the way in which such budgets compare with the money allocated in 2005 to allow Cork to be European City of Culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9180/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that last year the European Commission engaged a consultant, Palmer-Rae, to carry out an analysis and synthesis of the European capital city events from 1995 to 2004 and that this report, which is on the European Commission's website and contains details of the operational budgets for the cities which were designated over that period. The scale of city and the variety in the programmes offered make meaningful comparisons very difficult, if not impossible.

The Government support of €7.85 million together with other sponsorship in cash and in kind is allowing Cork 2005 to present an exciting programme of international standard this year. I understand that the audience figures to date are well above those anticipated.