Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask this question in the context of the recent announcement by Dublin City Council of plans for a new cultural quarter around Parnell Square. I welcome the initiative but I am concerned that it does not go far enough. Dublin has a number of things going for it. It is the capital city and it houses all the major national cultural institutions of theatre, music, museums and galleries. The city has a unique culture and heritage in its built environment and in the arts. However, there are two entirely separate streams - the national one running through the city and the local one specifically tailored to the city. Does the Minister accept there is a disjunction between the two identities and that the divisions are reproduced in the lack of joined up thinking to see the bigger picture? Does the Minister accept this has a negative affect on development, in terms of tourism and in terms of the city's overall urban aesthetic? As a result, the city's huge potential as a cultural artistic centre remains untapped.

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