Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 27 together.

The renewed programme for Government commits us to a detailed assessment of the GPO complex in the context of locating the Abbey Theatre there in time for the centenary of the 1916 Rising. The development of a new national theatre project is a not a simple undertaking. There is a matrix of technical, procedural and legal factors to address in making progress on it. Trying to build a national theatre at the GPO, with all of the history that embraces that building, adds to the complexity and also needs particular sensibilities to history, tradition and the iconography of the GPO.

A feasibility group of the primary stakeholders has been set up. Its membership includes representatives from my Department, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, An Post and the Abbey Theatre. The group has made considerable progress in assessing the GPO complex to ascertain whether it is a feasible location for the redeveloped national theatre. Among the main considerations assessed are the capacity of the GPO to accommodate the brief agreed for the Abbey Theatre; the integration of theatre infrastructure into the street and skyscape; the feasibility from a planning perspective of any redevelopment proposal; the cost of the construction, the nature of the title to the site and the terms and conditions of leases, indentures, mortgages, liens, etc., thereon; and the costs of lease terminations and other commercial and corporate issues for An Post.

A draft report is nearing completion. That draft report will then be circulated to the members of the feasibility group for final input. I anticipate it will be a number of weeks before this process is completed and the final report is ready for submission to me and to the Government.

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