Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

As the Deputy is aware, the feasibility study referred to in her question is available on the website of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It was undertaken to assess the feasibility of locating the Abbey Theatre in the GPO. The feasibility group included representatives of the Office of Public Works, the Abbey Theatre, An Post and the Departments of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The Deputy's question refers to the input into the group's work made by the Office of Public Works when it described the plans it had prepared in 2008. Any proposals relating to the use of the GPO would be a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in consultation, as necessary, with the Office of Public Works. The feasibility report found that although it would be technically feasible to relocate the Abbey Theatre to the GPO complex, it would be extremely difficult to complete the relocation in time for the 1916 centenary celebrations. The GPO houses 960 staff of An Post which holds an exclusive lease of the complex until 2034 at an annual rent of €1.27 million. The report estimated that the cost of the relocation of the Abbey Theatre to the GPO would be €293 million. The estimate came with a caveat that several unknown factors could add significantly to that sum.

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