Senator poses ‘awkward’ questions on 2020 spending

Galway’s year-long designation as Capital of Culture in 2020 could turn into another ‘arthouse cinema debacle’ without proper checks and balances being put in place, a senator has cautioned.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has again warned about a “lack of oversight and lack of transparency” with regard management of the project now and into the future.

The Sinn Féin politician has posed ‘awkward’ questions of Galway City Council this week in relation to a possible €800,000 overspend so far on the City of Culture and the proposed €230,000 annual salaries of two staff who are to be recruited.

The Connemara-based senator has also queried if the Council has followed proper tender procedures when choosing a company for recruitment, and questioned whether a finance and audit subcommittee of Galway 2020 has been established, as was promised.

The City Council has acknowledged his series of questions and has promised to revert with answers as soon as possible.

“It is important that public representatives ask tough questions now to ensure the success of this designation. I am worried now that there is a complete lack of transparency and a lack of oversight, which could lead to another arthouse cinema debacle,” said Senator Ó Clochartaigh, who fears the City of Culture could turn sour like the ill-fated and long-delayed cinema project.

There are four strands to his questioning, with the first two involving money.

He has asked Galway 2020 to publish a breakdown of the costs associated with the bid. The bid book said expenditure would amount to €1 million in 2016, “but we are told the bid process cost €1.8 million, so does that mean a budget overrun of €800,000 and where will that shortfall be funded from?”

The Council has acknowledged that €27 million from European, state and regional sources will not be available until 2019 or 2020. “The €1.4 million prize for winning the designation isn’t guaranteed either and is only paid if the city delivers on what it said it would in its bid book. Even then it won’t be paid until after 2020, so where is the money coming from in the meantime,” he said.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh has also questioned the advertised salaries of CEO and creative director of the project, which amount to €120,000 and €110,000.

“That’s the guts of a quarter of a million. It’s a lot of money, especially when the City and County Councils are totally strapped for cash. That type of money seems very high to me, especially when there are expenses on top of that.

“I’ve been speaking with artists in Galway who are very concerned that artists will see little financial benefit from the City of Culture because all the money will be spent on managers and administrators. How many more people do Galway 2020 plan to hire in addition to a CEO and creative director? And how does the advertised salaries compare to those of the Galway Arts Festival, Babaró, Cúirt and other cultural and artistic events, because what I’m hearing from people in the industry is close-on €250,000 is quite high?”

Derry company Connected Talent has been chosen to run the recruitment process and Senator Ó Clochartaigh has asked for clarification on whether this was a position that was advertised and given through a public tender process.

“I have also asked the project promoters to clarify what role Connected Talent, or its employees, played in the Derry City of Culture 2013 project, because it seems that this has been key to them securing the contract of recruiting the Galway 2020 team. The company, according to its own PR, was only set up two years ago, after the Derry project was finished.

“I would also like to know who the members of the finance and audit subcommittee of Galway 2020 are; when and how they were appointed; and details on who is carrying out the independent monitoring and evaluation that is outlined in the bid book,” he said.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh said his ‘unpopular’ questions are ones that must be asked if Galway 2020 is to be a success.

“There is a sense out there that Galway 2020 is going to be brilliant and great for the city, and it can be, but from speaking with local artists, there is also a very real fear that it could turn into a debacle, without proper oversight and transparency and monitoring. Now is the time to ask the questions, not when it’s over,” he added.