Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2023
130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 18 May 2023, the details of any reporting relationship between her Department and Galway Culture Company with regard to the implementation of the Galway 2020 legacy programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34646/23]
View answerA Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) is in place between my Department and Galway Culture Company. This PDA outlines the delivery agreement for the drawdown, management and monitoring of the €1 million funding for the programme under the legacy framework. It defines the agreement in regards to the milestones and associated key performance indicators, and subsequent satisfactory quarterly financial and management reporting in advance of each drawdown.
The PDA outlines that Galway Culture Company will hold a quarterly reporting meeting with all public funders of Galway Culture Company and a separate bi-lateral meeting with the Department on progress against milestones under this Agreement. At least one week in advance of each such meeting, Galway Culture Company will provide a management report to the Department on progress on meeting agreed milestones under the key performance indicators, to include the following sections:
• overview of progress on delivery of the programme;
• updates on governance arrangements, risk management and staffing;
• budget V expenditure;
• progress on Partnership Programmes; and
• progress in relation to monitoring and evaluation.
An end-of-year management report will also be provided and accompanied by an independent auditor’s report confirming that best financial practice has been applied in respect of the expenditure for funds drawn down, which must confirm;
• that best practices in transparency, accountability and securing value for money have been followed in respect of the qualifying programme expenditure for which funds are being drawn down;
• where required due to payment levels, valid Tax Clearance Certificates and certification that payees, are tax compliant;
• categorisation of expenditure into agreed headings.
In order to drawdown Department funding, Galway Culture Company is required, on a monthly basis, to apply in writing for each drawdown with the following information included;
• the most recent quarterly management report outlining progress against milestones under the key performance indicators outlined in the appendix to the PDA;
• confirm that for any funding expended to a partner of Galway Culture Company, that the provisions of a signed Service Level Agreement/Performance Delivery Agreement between the two entities were adhered to;
• the details of upcoming expenditure on programming and priorities for the subsequent two-month period; and,
• an updated cash-flow statement.
The PDA monitoring and reporting requirements aims to ensure that my Department has the appropriate oversight of the implementation of the legacy programme and expenditure of the Government legacy programme funding allocation.
