Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

The Minister accepted that the PPP process with regard to the national conference centre was very complicated and cumbersome. Does he therefore regard a PPP as the best option for the National Concert Hall? I understand the Abbey Theatre will not go through the process.

This is an ideal opportunity to accommodate the Royal Irish Academy of Music in the new building arrangements in the concert hall. In the context of new space being provided, will he give consideration, in consultation with the directors of the National Concert Hall and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, to provision being made to relocate the academy from its current site to the concert hall site at Earlsfort Terrace?

I am sure the Minister is familiar with the academy's accommodation which requires major upgrading and more space. I ask the Minister to consider the relocation of the academy because of the space available at the Earlsfort Terrace site and the positive synergy that could take place between the concert hall and the academy.

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