asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has made for Dublin's nomination as European Cultural Capital in 1991.
13.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European City of Culture.
12.
asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate, in relation to the plans and preparations that have been made for Dublin as the European City of Culture 1991— (i) the membership of the committee with responsibility for this project, (ii) the name of the committee, (iii) the budget that will be available to the committee, (iv) the role, if any, of the three local authorities in the project, (v) the process of consultation, if any, with the Members of the Oireachtas from Dublin and the public, (vi) when, if at all, an interim programme will be published and (vii) if the Arts Council will be involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.
The Ministers for Cultural Affairs of the European Community have already agreed to designate Dublin as "European City of Culture" for 1991. I have had detailed discussions with a number of persons concerned, including Dublin's city manager, as to how an effective organisational framework for this event can best be put in place. Following these, I have given a mandate to Dublin Promotions Organisations Limited, which were so successful in promoting the Dublin Millennium, to plan and organise the necessary cultural events in Dublin for 1991. The board of that organisation are at present being reorganised to meet the particular needs of the situation. It is hoped to appoint a chief executive within the next few weeks to assist the board in their new task. Full details relating to the names and designations of the augmented DPOL board and their chief executive will be announced at that stage.
The level of the State assistance available for Dublin's tenure as "European City of Culture" will be determined in the light of its proposed programme of events. It is expected that a considerable amount of commercial sponsorship will also be secured.
I envisage that the chief executive for this project will undertake extensive consultations with all interested parties, including members of the three local authorities in the greater Dublin area, Members of the Oireachtas representing Dublin, the Arts Council and other representative groups as well as the general public. The timing of the publication of an interim programme of events in this context is primarily a matter for consideration by DPOL and their chief executive.
I know that all sides of the House were unanimous in their praise for the successful manner in which celebrations were organised by DPOL to mark Dublin's Millennium. I have every confidence that their work to organise our tenure as "European City of Culture" will be equally successful.
I welcome the Taoiseach's statement but I regret that so little seems to have been done. Is the Taoiseach aware that Glasgow, which will be the cultural capital in 1990, has been preparing for this for three and a half years with salaried people and with a structure and Madrid which will be the cultural capital in 1992 has already set up its structure? Would the Taoiseach not take this whole issue with a greater degree of urgency given the importance of it not only to the city but also to the country?
I can assure the Deputy that things will begin to happen now.
They would want to.
I am not sure if I understood the Taoiseach's reply correctly, so perhaps he might be able to advise me. I understand this task has been given to a body, the board of which has to be reorganised, that the board have yet to appoint a chief executive, that the chief executive has yet to come forward with a programme, that until such time as the programme comes forward we do not know how much money is going to be available, that it would be for the chief executive, when he or she is appointed, to perhaps take into account discussions with Members of the Oireachtas and others, and that maybe the Arts Council will be involved. Have I understood the Government's position correctly?
Except that the Deputy is putting in too many suppositions.
For a Taoiseach who is renowned for his decisiveness, having regard to the long delay that has occurred since April we seem to be not much further down the road.
Let us proceed by supplementary questions please. Let them be precise and brief.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the Government will be making provision in the budget for 1990, from whatever subhead, for a capital sum to facilitate this project and, if so, if he could indicate the scale rather than the precise sum? Will thousands of pounds or millions of pounds be provided in 1990 for this project?
Adequate provision will be made. As the Deputy will understand, until we have a fair assessment of the extent of the programme I do not think we can decide what the exact provision should be but I assure the Deputy that adequate provision will be made. The situation will also be affected by the amount of private sponsorship forthcoming. As the Deputy will remember from the Millennium celebrations, this particular organisation were successful in securing a great deal of very valuable private sponsorship. I assure the House that this matter will be pressed forward and that we will do ourselves credit in Dublin as the European City of Culture in 1991.
May I ask——
A brief question. I was hoping to make progress on other questions. Time is running out.
The Taoiseach emphasised exclusively, so far as I can recall, the question of organising events during 1991. My understanding is that the intention is that the nomination of cities as cultural capitals is to develop the cultural life of these capitals and, hopefully, of the country concerned. Can the Taoiseach indicate what kind of cultural infrastructure will be developed to cope with the year 1991, which will remain following that year to enrich the lives of the people of this city?
That, of course, is involved. The whole purpose is first to have a vibrant cultural year and to leave, as the Millennium did, a permanent impact on the cultural life of the city.
In what physical way——
I want to deal with another question. Question No. 14 please.
Can the Taoiseach tell us if the company concerned will be made responsible for the provision of infrastructure, or is it intended that the Government or a local authority will in some way provide these facilities?
Deputies, I want to make progress on other questions, as I have indicated.
The main organisational work will be the responsibility of the board of DPOL. The Deputy will accept that when we announce the membership of the board, it will be a competent and broadly based body to do the job. The chief executive will be appointed shortly and, work will be pressed ahead from there. As a matter of fact, one of the Deputy's colleagues will be a member of the board.
Question No. 14 please.
A Cheann Comhairle, may I ask a question?
A brief question, perhaps.
I am quite sure that that is all the assurance the Deputy needs.
Can the Taoiseach give an assurance to the House if finance is to be made available to the city of Dublin in 1991 that it will not be at the expense of other services the city enjoys? That has been the record of his Government in the past.
I think the Deputy is confusing the Governments. It is the Labour-Fine Gael Coalition Government he is talking about.
Question No. 14.
Old hat.
You are welcome back, Joe.
A coalition between friends.