Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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88. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for a permanent civic arts centre for Galway city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21870/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Under Project Ireland 2040 – the National Development Plan (NDP) there is a large programme of investment in our culture and creativity across the country. This ambitious programme includes a range of high value projects which will contribute significantly to the development of Ireland's cultural and sporting facilities, as well as important economic investments in tourism and rural infrastructure and facilities.

There is a large number of dedicated purpose built arts and culture facilities across the country.  From time to time my Department runs capital funding grant schemes provided under a competitive process to a maximum of €300k grants for the upgrading of this existing stock of arts and culture facilities throughout the country. My Department has made a number of capital grants to Galway Arts Centre with most recent payments made in 2018.  Proposals relating to this or to a civic arts centre would be a matter for the local authority in the first instance.