The company behind a proposed art-house cinema in Galway is being investigated by the Charities Regulator.
It comes after issues arose in relation to the assets of Solas-Galway Picture Palace Teoranta and a proposed new commercial arrangement with Element Pictures.
In a statement today, the Charities Regulator said it had ordered the investigation following an examination of books, documents and other records of Solas.
The initial investigation of records took place last November after the regulator met with trustees.
Solas is a registered charity, with a five-person board, chaired by Lelia Doolan. It was first listed in 2008.
This afternoon Ms Doolan said the board was complying fully with everything that had been asked of it by the regulator and that it would continue to do so.
She said she was confident that it had operated properly at all times.
The long promised art-house cinema for Galway has been mired in controversy.
Built on a site donated by Galway City Council, the project ran into financial difficulties and work on the building has been at a standstill for several years.
While the structure has been completed, the building has not been fitted out.
In 2015, the Department of Arts provided €735,000 in additional funding to complete the project.
This was on top of €2 million in departmental funding provided before then.
The monies were provided on condition that Galway City Council took over the management of the development.
Element Pictures was named as the operator of the cinema, following an investment on its part of €850,000.
The council has agreed a 30-year lease with Elements Pictures.
The three-screen cinema is on Lower Merchants Road, close to the Spanish Arch.
A number of scheduled completion dates have passed.
However, it is understood that builders will return to the site in the coming days to commence the final fit out.
Solas says the cinema will be open by the end of the year.
