Local TD Deirdre Clune has called on the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen T.D. to explain why the funding of Opera 2005 has been reduced to zero this year despite being granted €110,000 last year.

Opera 2005 is a Cork based opera company established in 2004 to contribute to Cork’s celebrations as European Capital of Culture. As Lord Mayor of Cork during the City of Culture celebrations I am disappointed to see the future of one of the legacies of that year put in jeopardy.

Minister Cullen is in Cork today visiting a selection of artistic and cultural institutions and I want him to address the fact that Opera 2005 was ignored when allocating Government funding. We all understand that funding to the Arts Council was cut by 10% this year but that does not explain the 100% cut in funding to Opera 2005. This is particularly difficult to understand when we see Opera Ireland is to receive €1.7 million and the Wexford Opera festival €1.3 million the same funding these groups received in 2008.

Opera 2005 has been very successful in staging professional productions for audiences across Munster it has also provided valuable employment opportunities for musicians and performers in Cork. Those opportunities may now disappear.

The Minister must take the opportunity of his visit to Cork this week to explain his decision to withdraw funding for Opera 2005. Why the successful Cork based opera company was targeted and why the sudden decision was taken with no previous warning to the group? Such an explanation would be welcomed by the many of us who are baffled by this move.