Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are under pressure for time, and I know other people wish to come in, so I will move to my next question. A fund was recently set up by the Department of the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Heather Humphreys, for repurposing old buildings, town centre buildings, with a focus on remote working and e-hubs. In this context, I think the potential for new theatres and performance spaces, which would be multi-use but with a focus on performance, is amazing. I would love to see this direction pursued. It is something I would like to see discussed further, perhaps in the report.

To move to my final question, to Mr. Croffy, on public spaces, I get his point concerning insurance and the difficulties in this regard. Senator Cassells mentioned the point that it depends on local authorities and their willingness to co-operate and see solutions rather than obstacles. We are lucky that we have a new public realm space down where I am. There are two areas in particular that were never used for public performances and now every festival and event sees a public performance there. It does, therefore, depend on the local authority. What towns are missing, though, are covered stages. Regarding addressing summertime solutions or festivals and events involving putting on outdoor productions, I would like to hear Mr. Croffy's thoughts concerning whether it would be overkill to suggest the idea of municipal districts being given funding or resources to source their own outdoor stages that could be erected overnight for performances? Would he think this would be overkill?