Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 49 together.

The Arts Council always had responsibility to promote opera, apart from a limited amount of work undertaken in my Department on the Irish National Opera project. When I assumed the role of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I examined the available information and expert advice. Based on that examination, I believed the best option was for the Arts Council to resume responsibility for all opera policy provision and implementation into the future. I communicated that decision to the chair and the director of the Arts Council last summer. The council remains at all times independent in its decision-making on the financing of opera.

In resuming this function, the council has to address a number of issues, including the financing of opera. The Deputy will recall that the significant reason for discontinuation of the Irish National Opera project was its need for a minimum annual State contribution of €4.5 million if it was to be successful. This compared with the €2.2 million available to opera in 2010. At another juncture, this project might have proceeded, but not in the current budgetary climate.

Following the full resumption of its responsibility for the entirety of the opera brief, the Arts Council decided to conduct a consultation process with key stakeholders within the opera community to inform itself on the future direction of policy. That process includes several elements, namely, publishing details on its website including documentation intended to promote discussion; convening a series of 30 meetings with stakeholders; and inviting written submissions from interested parties. I understand from the council that any plans for the future development of opera will fall to be considered in the light of this assessment. I also understand that the outcome will be provided to me by the council before year-end.

It is important to note that, over the course of 2010, there has been some confusion about where responsibility for opera resided. I want to make it absolutely clear that all responsibility for all opera, including its financing, now resides with the Arts Council. I am fully confident of the Council's ability to discharge this responsibility.

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