Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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39. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the engagement he has had on the issue of maintaining public ownership of the Pálás cinema in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9650/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I was saddened to hear about the closure of the Pálás cinema in Galway at the end of last month, especially as Galway is a UNESCO city of film having been so designated in 2014. As such it is one of only 26 UNESCO cities of film in the world and is the only one in Ireland.

Pálás Cinema has been in operation in the Latin Quarter in the heart of Galway City Centre for the past seven years. Across its three screens, the Pálás cinema has exhibited a wide range of home-grown and international films many that would not otherwise have been available to the people of Galway. In addition, a wide-ranging outreach, festivals and schools programme was also in place at the cinema and it has, of course, been the home of the Galway Film Fleadh in July and the Junior Film Fleadh in October for the past seven years.

In 2024, the operator of Pálás Cinema, indicated an intention to withdraw from operating the cinema in early 2025. The legal position is that Galway City Council is the owner and landlord of the property. The operator of the cinema is Picture Palace Cinema Ltd. I understand that negotiations are ongoing between Galway City Council and the operator about the terms of the lease and its surrender. Following the operator's exit, the future of the building is first and foremost a matter for Galway City Council as owner of the cinema which it leases to the operator. I understand that Galway City Council has already undertaken an independent commercial appraisal into the operation of the cinema.

My Department along with Screen Ireland, the Western Development Commission and Galway City Council grant aided the original construction of the cinema and have been in ongoing engagement in recent months regarding Pálás cinema with Galway City Council and the cinema operator.

In addition, on 26 February last, at the request of a group of Galway-based interested parties, my Department facilitated an online meeting with Galway City Council and other stakeholders. I understand the group came together to work on a renewed vision and plan for the future of the building as a centre for film related activities, educational programmes language diversity and cultural centre.

My Department will continue to engage with stakeholders on this issue.