I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 98 together.
As set out in my reply of 26 January to the Deputy, on 1st December last, I approved the allocation of the remaining €1 million from my Department’s commitment to Galway European Capital of Culture to support the delivery of the programme under the proposed legacy framework. The legacy framework will be published on the website of Galway Culture Company, the successor trading entity to the Galway 2020 Company, during the month of March.
As also set out, the website of Galway Culture Company, which is fully bilingual, sets out the key high level programme aims and actions under the legacy framework. The €1 million funding from my Department will be broken down to support the delivery of these programme aims as follows:
- €300,000 to facilitate EU and international relationships and funding;
- €500,000 to develop and support place based cultural programming;
- €200,000 to provide supports to the cultural and creative sector.
Under the framework, the artistic and cultural sector will access the funding through a series of open calls, partnerships on funding applications to relevant EU programmes, opportunities for presentation in other European countries and targeted capacity building supports. All opportunities will be published on the website of Galway Culture Company as they arise throughout the year. In this way, the €1 million funding from my Department will be targeted in full to projects and initiatives to support the artistic and cultural sector in the Galway region.