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

According to the chair of the Arts Council, Professor Kevin Rafter, the council has been examining the options with regard to its future location for the past six months. This issue was the subject of detailed discussions at five recent meetings of the council. The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has been informed of these discussions. Arts Council staff were briefed on them last week. The Arts Council has been undertaking significant property searches since 2013. It has viewed several options over the intervening years. This process has identified four property options for the council. First, it can extend the leases on Nos. 69 and 70 and the mews without taking any extra space. As the Deputy will be aware, these properties are the subject of a rent review at present. Second, it can extend the leases on Nos. 69 and 70 while taking the full building in the case of No. 69. Third, it can lease a new building in a city centre location. Fourth, it can purchase a new building in a city centre location. As I have said, the Arts Council is in protracted lease renewal discussions with its current landlord. The timing of this process has coincided with the recent identification of a new property option. Unlike other options that have been explored in the past, this option substantially meets the existing and evolving needs of the Arts Council, particularly with regard to new policy areas that have been identified and prioritised by the council. In June 2019, it was agreed that the Arts Council needs a public-facing, accessible, greener and more modern work environment.

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