Vol. 396 No. 6
12 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he is satisfied with the progress being made in preparation for the 1991 Dublin European City of Culture project; if he has received an interim report on the proposed activities for 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am satisfied with progress being made to date in preparation for the celebration in 1991 of Dublin's tenure as European City of Culture.
As I advised the House some time ago, I have given a mandate to the Dublin Promotions Organisation Limited to plan and organise an appropriate cultural programme in Dublin for 1991.
The company have already appointed a chief executive, a general administrator, an information officer and a finance officer. It is hoped to appoint a project officer and a sponsorship officer before the end of this month. Additional staff will be employed on a temporary basis as required.
The project committee of the DPOL is at present evaluating a very large number of proposals which have been put forward from various sources. DPOL will itself also initiate a number of projects, many of which, it is hoped, will be sponsored privately.
I have been kept appraised of developments by the chief executive of DPOL and by my representatives on the board. I understand that a tentative outline of the 1991 programme will be given early next month at a press conference which is being organised by DPOL.
I know that all sides of the House will join with me in conveying our best wishes to DPOL and to all associated with the preparations for this major cultural and social event.
I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that a large amount of money has been made available in Glasgow this year for the expenditure on Glasgow as European City of Culture and that in Berlin some years ago large sums of public money were spent in carrying out improvements to the city. In relation to the proposals which the Taoiseach has said will be brought forward next month, what is the budget provided for the committee to spend in relation to preparing Dublin as the European City of Culture?
So far, the amount is £250,000, but that is not by any means the final amount. It is difficult to estimate what the exact cost will be because we hope that a number of the major events will be privately sponsored. The Deputy should not anticipate that we will be in a position to spend anything like what was spent in Glasgow and Berlin but, I hope that within the limited resources we can make available, the job will be well done.
If the Taoiseach says that a sum of £250,000 is to be the amount provided from public moneys, given the array of executives and others mentioned as appointees that amount of money will hardly cover them for 12 months. Will the Taoiseach agree that that amount of money is derisory in relation to an attempt to have Dublin as a European City for Culture in 1991? Perhaps the Taoiseach will take this opportunity to intimate that a reasonable sum will be made available from public funds for this project?
I assure the Deputy we will do what we can to make sure that what is proposed will be adequately funded.
Is the Taoiseach aware that this designation of Dublin as a city of culture is something that is taking place under the aegis of the Council of Europe, and is he aware that the UK authorities have arranged for a special meeting of the Council of Europe to take place in Glasgow this year to mark the fact that Glasgow has that designation? Has the Taoiseach, as yet, considered whether such a similar arrangement should be made in Dublin?
No, I have not, but I will take the Deputy's suggestion into consideration.
Would the Taoiseach agree that it is not sufficient simply to provide funding for a number of events during 1991 and does he not see a contradiction in designating Dublin as the European City of Culture in 1991 while, at the same time, local authorities are being forced through lack of finance to curtail the library services in Dublin, which surely are a major aspect of the culture of Dublin city?
It is a separate matter.
I am aware that if I were to listen to all of the demands made in this House, we would revert back to the old, near bankruptcy situation from which this Government rescued the country.
Into which you and your colleagues plunged this country.
I do not suppose that a day passes when some Deputy or group of Deputies do not demand additional expenditure in some area.
You were good at that yourself.
You even gave out tooth brushes.
This Government, in regard to this matter, will proceed with prudence and discretion and we will do the best we can with the limited amount of resources we can make available. That is the sensible way to proceed.
Question No. 13, please.
The Workers' Party would bankrupt the country tomorrow morning should they even come within sight of office but, thank God, they never will.
Question No. 13 has been called.
They got good example from yourself.
