Opera House bail out a fiasco

David McNarry MLA, Ulster Unionist Party Spokesperson for Culture Arts and Leisure has criticised the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure for bailing out the Opera House with £2million of taxpayers' money.

Speaking after a Culture Arts and Lesiure Committee meeting today which examined the issue Mr. McNarry said:

"In developing its new extension, the Opera House overspent its budget by some £2million pounds. This financial hole was then filled in with taxpayers' money gifted by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and it would appear that no mechanisms are in place to repay it.

"Whilst I recognise the cultural significance of the Grand Opera House, the manner in which this money was handed over - with no questions asked, no alternative sources of funding sought, no compensation required - raises serious concerns about how this Department manages its finances".

"At a time of severe fiscal constraint across the Executive no Government Department can afford to send out a message which says we will bail out businesses that overspend or fail to deliver on their terms of contract".

"What will happen if the Lyric Theatre overspends on its budget; will it now expect to be bailed out by Nelson McCausland as well. Across Northern Ireland countless businesses could do with a hand out from the taxpayer, but they will not get it".

"Nelson McCausland has a duty to tell the Sport and Arts community what projects did not get funding because of the decision to bail-out the Opera House".