Anger over failure of cinema backers to provide information
Major concerns about the deliverability of the city’s arthouse cinema, which is delayed by years and over-budget, have been raised again.
Fears about Solas’ ability to operate the facility, without public convention, if it ever gets up and running, were also expressed.
The backers of the project now face a grilling from city councillors, who are angry that the project appears to have stalled once again.
A motion by city councillor Mike Crowe (FF), and which was supported by his colleagues, calls on representatives of the Solas Picture Palace to give a full update on progress – or lack of it – on the new cinema at Lower Merchants Road.
In Spring 2013, the City Council agreed to funding the cinema to the tune of €200,000 over four years. The local authority already donated the site.
Cllr Crowe has now said the Council should ‘hold-off’ on approving the next tranche of €50,000 next year for the cinema, at least until it is briefed by members of Solas.
He said at that briefing in 2013, councillors were told that the project was contingent on receiving €650,000 in a bond from the High Court but as yet it is not known whether this will be made available, he said.
“They’ve missed so many deadlines I have lost count,” said Cllr Crowe.
“We’ve given them the site, we’ve given them funding and now it looks likely that it is going to need more taxpayer money. I mean, when is this going to end?
“There’s no work going on at the building, and there hasn’t been as far as I can see for months and they haven’t even had the courtesy to let us know what’s going on. We’re the ones doing all the chasing yet we’re the ones who have put up the money. I was the only councillor who voted against giving them the €200,000 because I don’t want to see good money thrown after bad.
“There are two issues: One is whether the project can be finished; and the second is whether it can be run without subvention if and when it is opened. I have fears about the first point but I also have very genuine concerns about the cinema’s capacity to operate on a day-to-day basis without further taxpayers’ money if they can get it open,” said Cllr Crowe.
He said by the time it is complete it will have taken over a decade. He said Solas will be asked at its Council briefing to outline its plans to get the project back on track, as well as its proposals to make it break-even, at the very least, if and when it opens.