Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 December 2019
23. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of times the legacy committee of Galway 2020 has met; the progress made in securing long-term arts infrastructure for the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51991/19]
View answer32. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 12 June 2018, the steps she has taken to ensure that a circus (details supplied), which is due to play a critical role in a showpiece event of the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture celebrations, will not close; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51993/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 32 together.
The legacy sub-committee of the board of Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture was set-up at a board meeting in July 2019. The terms of reference of the committee is to advise the board on the best model to deliver on legacy of Galway 2020. I am advised that the legacy sub-committee of the Board of Galway 2020 has met twice , in August and December. The committee is due to report back to the board again at the next board meeting which is scheduled for Friday 13 December. No formal reports have been published as of yet.
Legacy is an important aspect of everything that we do for the European Capital of Culture project. It is the ambition to deliver a year that leaves a lasting legacy that will benefit Galway for many years to come. The Board of Galway 2020, is working with partners to provide leadership as to the most appropriate mechanism for delivering the legacy in all its different forms and NUI Galway have announced their strategic partnership with Galway 2020 as the official legacy partner for the European Capital of Culture.
It should be noted that legacy plans have been, and will continue to be part of the normal quarterly monitoring meetings between the Department and Galway 2020, as well as an agenda item at regular meetings between the Department and the Chief Executives of Galway City Council and Galway County Council.
The Galway project to which the Deputy refers in question 51993 is part of the Galway 2020 Cultural Programme and has been developed as a partnership across 10 European countries and is supported by European funding.
I am aware that owing to recent changes in cover provided by insurance companies, many service providers including those in the tourism, leisure, children’s play facilities, as well as arts organisations that engage in aerial and street performance are experiencing significant difficulties in securing insurance. The board of Galway 2020, on which I am represented, is concerned to ensure full cover is in place so that next year’s programme is not affected.
In 2016, the Government established a Cost of Insurance Working Group, which is chaired by Minister of State Michael D’Arcy, who has special responsibility for insurance issues. The Working Group, as part of its remit, is also examining the issues encountered by the arts performance organisations.
