DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM SAYS NO SANCTION FOR GALWAY VOLVO DEBTS

Date Published: 21-Dec-2012

The Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport says NO sanction has been given to provide funding for debts accrued by the Volvo ocean race.

Organisers of the Galway race finale 'Let's do it Global' are seeking Government assistance to deal with debts outstanding to an estimated 50 creditors.

The company which organised this year's hugely succesful Volvo Ocean race finale in Galway, has been left with bills of up to 450 thousand euro.

Let's do it Global representatives had meet with Government TD's in recent weeks in an effort to get Government assistance to finalise the bills.

However, In a statement to Galway Bay Fm news, the Department of Transport says no sanction has been given to provide funding accrued by the Volvo Ocean race, and no instruction has been issued regarding this to the Department of Transport.

It adds the Volvo Ocean race has already received the single largest grant from Failte Ireland in 2012, and more than double the funding provided to all other major international events.

It goes on to say that the Department did receive a request from Let's do it Global shortly after the festival and was informed that addtional funding was not available.

This year's Volvo Ocean race finale saw over 900 thousand visits by spectators anf tourists to the race village and global village.

It's economic impact to the city and environs is estimated to be valued at up to 100 million euro.