Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2018

Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Ceisteanna (631)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

631. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 9 May 2018, the purpose of the €1 million paid to date to Cork City Council; if this €1 million was reimbursed to the council in respect of costs incurred; the breakdown of the €1 million; if, on completion of her Department's analysis of the project, it must then be referred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for further assessment; if it is her Department or the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that has the final sign-off on the extra €10 million of funding that has been sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22272/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

In December 2015, in accordance with the terms of a Service Level Agreement between the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Cork City Council, and with prior sanction from Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, €1 million was paid to Cork City Council in respect of the Cork Event Centre project.  The breakdown of the expenditure of this €1 million is a matter for Cork City Council but includes, I am advised, some funding towards the cost of professional advices obtained as part of the project.

As sanctioning authority for the project, my Department needs to ensure that the project is robust, complies with the Public Spending Code and will deliver value for money for the Exchequer. Allocations of funding are a matter for me, as Minister, in the first instance, but are also subject to the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.