Tá fíor áthas agam a labhairt ar an ábhar seo. I have a particular interest in this project because I represent Galway West, from where the Senator also hails. I want to see Galway develop as a city with unparalleled cultural facilities. As Minister of State in this Department I have pushed this project because I appreciate its importance and I am delighted to have had the full support of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy de Valera, in my efforts. Fortunately, the Department operates on a co-operative basis and those issues which are important to me are important to her and vice versa.Galway city is associated with a vibrant and vigorous contemporary culture. It has a deservedly strong reputation in theatre and drama with such famous names as the Taibhdhearc and Druid theatres. The city and county also attract people because of their associations with the Irish language and traditional music. I have been supportive of the development of this vibrancy and the Minister and I were delighted to confirm the major grants, which had been offered in principle by the Minister's predecessor, under the cultural development incentive scheme, or CDIS, of the Operational Programme for Tourism, for projects such as the Black Box Theatre and the new Galway Arts Centre. Subject to clearance from the relevant trustees and approval of the plans we have submitted we will also proceed with the Parkavera project. All the previous commitments will be honoured.
Galway city is often referred to as the gateway to the west, located as it is adjacent to Galway Bay and the River Corrib. My childhood memories of Galway is of the narrow streets of the medieval city. Even though there is so much granite in Connemara, this limestone city sits on the River Corrib. We all agree that Galway needs a civic museum. Indeed, given the city's history I often wonder how we got on without one. A civic museum as a showcase of its culture and history is central to the development of the city.
I am aware that the provision of a civic museum for the city has been a priority for Galway Corporation for many years. I have received many representations from the city manager on behalf of the members of Galway Corporation. We are all agreed that the lack of such a museum is a major gap in the arts and cultural infrastructure in the city. While my Department has been involved from the outset in facilitating the development of a museum, the promoter of the project is, rightly, Galway Corporation. It must assemble the funding package.
The estimated cost of the project is approximately £4 million. My Department has been committed to the funding of £500,000. Since I became Minister of State and with the consent of the Minister, that has been confirmed to the project. Previously, conditions were attached to the funding which were not matched. However, notwithstanding that, this funding is secured for the project. Galway Corporation has agreed to the provision of £1 million. The Office of Public Works will provide funding in kind by way of services, such as architectural designs, which would be valued at approximately £400,000. This still leaves the project with a shortfall of £2 million.
Galway Corporation has lodged an application in respect of the project with the Government's millennium committee and it has indicated to the committee that the museum project is its priority from all the millennium projects it has submitted for consideration. I see this as a testament to the corporation's commitment to the project and also to the importance and value it envisages it will have for the people and the economy of Galway city. I assure the Senator that the application will not fall between two stools. While we would all welcome a contribution from the millennium fund, my Department will not use it as an excuse to stand aside from its commitment.
Galway Corporation has also indicated to my Department that it will seek corporate sponsorship for the project and it has not yet ruled out the possibility of increasing its funding commitments. It is confident that the necessary funding to develop the project can be secured and when it has the design plans, which I have instructed my Department to request from the Office of Public Works, the task of fundraising will be all the easier.
I have already earmarked £500,000 towards the funding of this project. In recent weeks my officials have been in regular contact with Galway Corporation concerning the proposed development, and I am now sufficiently satisfied that the financial package necessary to develop the project can be assembled by the corporation in the near future. On this basis I have instructed my Department officials to request the Office of Public Works to prepare detailed drawings and a letter to this effect has issued. As soon as the time table for development of the project, as requested in our letter to the Office of Public Works, becomes available I will instruct my officials to meet with the corporation to discuss all aspects of the project, especially the question of the financial package currently being assembled by the corporation for its development. Based on our discussions with the corporation we have proceeded to obtain design plans. Until they are agreed and finalised the question of finalising the financial package will not arise. The logjam regarding the design plans has now been resolved and progress has been made.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the in-kind funding that has been secured for this project with the Office of Public Works in relation to the design concepts and drawing up of plans for the museum. It is important when providing the museum that it gives visible recognition to the spirit of the city and instills in the people of Galway a sense of identity and belonging. I have no doubt that in developing these plans, the Office of Public Works will respond to this requirement and that, when completed, the museum will not only be central to the arts and culture infrastructure of Galway city but will also be an important tourist attraction to the city and an outlet for the growing population in terms of income generation and job creation resulting from the spin-off effects it will have on the surrounding area.
I should point out the distinction between the Office of Public Works and Dúchas, which is the heritage section of my Department. The Office of Public Works is still a third party agency. We have instructed it to prepare the plans for this project.
I am delighted to be able to inform the Senator that I am very hopeful the Galway civic museum project will proceed as a co-operative venture lead by Galway Corporation in partnership with my Department and the Office of Public Works. I am confident that during the lifetime of this Government we will see the realisation of a dream that so many people have had for so long. The seed was set by my predecessor, Deputy Michael Higgins, when he was Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. The Minister and I are determined, in co-operation with Galway Corporation, to see this matter brought to a successful conclusion and to have this museum in Galway city.
