Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following the publication of the report, RTÉ Orchestras: Ensuring a Sustainable Future, that the station commissioned from independent consultants Helen Boaden and Mediatique, the Government agreed in principle that the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra should come within the remit of the National Concert Hall. The Government also authorised the initiation of discussions on the implementation of the recommendations in the report. The overall aim of the Government decision regarding the proposed transfer of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is to enable it to be established as a world-class orchestra which would, with the National Concert Hall, provide a creative and imaginative programme strategy that would greatly enhance the offering of the combined organisation to the public. The process now offers a welcome opportunity to plan a way forward for both orchestras and ensures that they can fully contribute to Ireland's rich cultural heritage.

In addition, the Government's Creative Ireland programme commits to a range of important initiatives to support culture and creativity in Ireland. The Department's ten-year national development plan envisages major capital investment in our national cultural institutions, including a major redevelopment of the National Concert Hall. Since it opened its doors in 1981, the National Concert Hall has been the home of the National Symphony Orchestra. The latter provides the backbone to orchestral music programme of the National Concert Hall. There is now an opportunity for the National Symphony Orchestra to play an even stronger role as part of these wider developments and this should greatly enhance the offerings of both organisations to the public.

An oversight group has been established, with formal terms of reference, with a view to identifying and addressing the relevant issues to enable the successful transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from the remit of RTÉ to that of the National Concert Hall. The group has already met twice. In addition, a working group, as a subset of the oversight group, has been tasked to exam the detailed issues involved in the proposed transfer of the orchestra. At this point, it is considered that 2020 would be the earliest date for the completion of the proposed transfer. My Department welcomes the opportunity to work with all stakeholders including the members of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra to ensure that it can contribute to Ireland's rich cultural heritage to the fullest extent possible.

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