Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has completed his trawl of city centre locations for the proposed relocation of the Abbey Theatre; if a suitable location has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9238/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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As I previously informed the House on a number of occasions, I was authorised by Government to invite expressions of interest by way of public invitation from the private sector in participating, on the basis of a PPP, in the capital redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre in and-or around the vicinity of the site of the existing theatre.

The accommodation brief for the new theatre, which was drawn up in consultation with and agreed by the Abbey board, specified the following requirements: to be a signature development, representative of a national theatre in the 21st century; to be in an appropriate civic setting and form part of the overall urban regeneration represented by the O'Connell Street integrated area plan and north-east inner city plan; three significant enlarged auditoria, Abbey, Peacock and a third multipurpose space; a dedicated education and outreach facility; a publicly accessible archive; a restaurant-bar; improved public areas; disabled access for audiences and artists; and best practice theatre production facilities.

My preference would have been to redevelop the theatre at its present location. However, taking into consideration the requirements which I have outlined, when it became apparent that costly additions to the existing footprint and that the timeframe for the acquisition of the additional properties necessary to render the existing location suitable was indeterminate, I arranged for a trawl of other available city centre locations. That trawl has not yet reached a conclusion.

As I previously informed the House, late last year a site was identified at Coláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square which it appeared might, with an adjacent building, have provided the necessary footprint to meet the accommodation requirements of the redeveloped Abbey Theatre. Unfortunately, the owner of the adjacent premises was not prepared to sell them to the State for what my advisers considered a fair market price. In the circumstances, there was no option but to withdraw from the negotiations. The Office of Public Works has recently confirmed to me that the Coláiste Mhuire site on its own is not an option.

The former Carlton cinema site was also in the frame as a possibility. I am aware there was a High Court judgment with regard to the compulsory purchase order on this site. However, it is for the parties to that judgment, which do not include my Department or the Office of Public Works, to evaluate the implications of the judgment. I understand that a judicial review on the decision of Dublin City Council's agreement with the selected developer of the site is also outstanding. Until such time as all legal issues, to which neither my Department nor the OPW is party, are resolved, it would be premature for my Department of the OPW to engage in negotiations on the Carlton site. I assure the Deputy that I view redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre at this location as a real option which I intend to explore further as soon as issues around the CPO have been resolved.

Recently the Dublin Docklands Development Authority offered a site at George's Dock and I have asked the OPW to explore the options for this site with the DDDA without a commitment on either side. Exploratory discussions are ongoing.

I assure the Deputy of my unrelenting efforts to identify a suitable location and I am in constant contact with the Office of Public Works to that end. I remain confident that a suitable site will be identified and acquired in due course.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister's reply is like a long playing record. Will he define what is "due course"? Will a national theatre be built during the Government's term or is there a timeframe for it? Does the Minister still propose to provide the theatre through the public private partnership model? Has the present site been ruled out completely, given recent articles in the national media?

Has the OPW gone back to the owner of the property adjacent to Coláiste Mhuire, where there was a problem regarding the price, to renegotiate the purchase of the site? Given the recent High Court judgment, which upheld Dublin City Council's compulsory purchase order, the Carlton Cinema site must be back on the agenda. How long will it take to resolve outstanding matters relating to that site? Is the OPW involved in this regard? Does the Minister think a decision will be made on the relocation of the national theatre during the Government's term?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The short answer is I do. I am reluctant to give timeframes because we were unable, for reasons beyond our control, to announce a new site for the Abbey Theatre during its centenary last year.

The Carlton site is subject to a judicial review. There is the possibility of a developer going to the Supreme Court following a recent High Court decision. It is impossible to give a timeframe in respect of these proceedings.

We did not return to the Coláiste Mhuire site because there was no way agreement could be reached with the owners of the portion of the site in question, which is in private hands.

With regard to the present location of the Abbey Theatre, I have pointed out on a number of occasions that time and expense rule out the possibility of a new theatre on that site. The OPW is in consultation with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority regarding a site at George's Quay, which has entered the frame. No hard and fast decision has been made because none can be at this time. However, everything is being done to resolve the situation.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The Lord Mayor suggested at a recent Dublin City Council meeting that an opinion poll should be conducted on the use of the Carlton Cinema as the new site for the Abbey Theatre. Does the Minister agree with this proposal? Would this be a good way to proceed?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I do not understand what impact it would have on the legal position. I cannot see how it could change the situation in any way. It might indicate a preference on the part of those polled regarding where they believe the theatre should be located but it would not resolve the legal difficulties because people have property rights under the Constitution, which they have a right to pursue in the courts.