Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 May 2018
47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to Galway 2020 to date; all expenditure, including salaries and rent; the governance structures in place to monitor the expenditure and the projected further funding from her Department between now and the end of 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20130/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2014 the Government decided that Ireland should exercise its right to nominate a European Capital of Culture for 2020 and committed in principle at that time to provide €15m to the selected project. The Government's support represents the largest single contribution to the overall cost of Galway 2020 as the European City of Culture, which is €45.7m. The balance of the funding is sourced from city and county local authorities, and commitments from business and sponsorship. The EU Commission's award is €1.5m. The city of culture is being delivered by the Galway 2020 Company with a board which represents the relevant partners. My Department officials continue to work and support the Galway 2020 Company and its Board with the preparations for delivery of the programme, "Making Waves". Mr Declan McGonagle is my Department’s representative on the Board. My Department provided a first tranche of funding of €250,000 in December 2017 toward certified expenditure already incurred for Galway 2020. The audited accounts for 2017 for Galway Cultural Development and Activity Company Limited by Guarantee, the legal structure set up to undertake all the activities of Galway 2020, show total expenditure of €749,129 to end 2017 of which €229,132 was on salaries, €240,921 on overheads, including rent of €39,788 with the remaining €279,076 spend on programme costs.The balance of the €15m grant will be advanced to Galway 2020 through a performance delivery agreement which is currently being drafted.
