Ms Dee Forbes:

This figure relates to the two orchestras, the symphony orchestra, which comprises more than 80 people, and the concert orchestra, in which in the region of 60 people are employed. These provide orchestral music for the country. As the Chairman may recall, back in 2018, we instigated a report on the future of the orchestras, given our ongoing financial situation. At the time, the Government and the Opposition deemed it important and absolutely essential that the country have two orchestras. It was then decided that the National Symphony Orchestra should be assigned to the National Concert Hall. That transfer process has been going on for some time. I am sure the Department will have some other points to make in this regard. That figure relates to the cost of providing these two orchestras, one of which we expect to be transferred to the National Concert Hall at some point this year. RTÉ will continue to maintain the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.