Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister agree with the proposal, outlined by the chairman of the board of the National Concert Hall last week, that a new auditorium be provided with a capacity for 2,000 seats, that the existing hall be upgraded to 900 seats and that there be flexibility in terms of a third hall with approximately 400 seats? Does he agree with the chairman that this presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a landmark cultural facility here and to provide a concert hall comparable to those in other cities in Europe?

Each major European city, except Dublin, has a concert hall with a capacity for up to 2,000 people. Has the Minister entered into negotiations with UCD on the purchase of the buildings to ensure the reconfiguration of the site? Does he think this is such a unique opportunity that negotiations should be entered into immediately, otherwise the opportunity may be lost to the Government? Will he confirm that it is the intention of the Government to honour the commitment made in An Agreed Programme for Government and in the report commissioned on the strategy on tourism because the whole revamp of the National Concert Hall is essential at this stage?

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