Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans for the future development of the National Concert Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15330/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question. No. 8 of 17 February 2005. The Office of Public Works, having investigated over several years various locations for a state-of-the-art National Concert Hall in Dublin, advised me last year that reconfiguration of the site at Earlsfort Terrace where the concert hall is located would provide space for implementation of an imaginative design concept involving the provision of three separate performance spaces and access to Iveagh Gardens.

As Deputies will appreciate, however, if this concept is to be progressed further it can only be in the context of University College Dublin completing the relocation of all remaining college staff located at Earlsfort Terrace to Belfield. UCD's plans for completing this process are well advanced but the financial issues around the provision of additional accommodation at Belfield have yet to be resolved.

My Department is engaged in a series of complex discussions with the Department of Education and Science, the Office of Public Works and University College Dublin to clarify the financial and other implications of completing the move of UCD from Earlsfort Terrace to Belfield, a consequence of which would be to free up the site at Earlsfort Terrace for redevelopment as a modern concert hall complex. On completion of these discussions I hope to be in a position to discuss with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, the provision of a joint submission to Government on those interlocking issues.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree with the proposal, outlined by the chairman of the board of the National Concert Hall last week, that a new auditorium be provided with a capacity for 2,000 seats, that the existing hall be upgraded to 900 seats and that there be flexibility in terms of a third hall with approximately 400 seats? Does he agree with the chairman that this presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a landmark cultural facility here and to provide a concert hall comparable to those in other cities in Europe?

Each major European city, except Dublin, has a concert hall with a capacity for up to 2,000 people. Has the Minister entered into negotiations with UCD on the purchase of the buildings to ensure the reconfiguration of the site? Does he think this is such a unique opportunity that negotiations should be entered into immediately, otherwise the opportunity may be lost to the Government? Will he confirm that it is the intention of the Government to honour the commitment made in An Agreed Programme for Government and in the report commissioned on the strategy on tourism because the whole revamp of the National Concert Hall is essential at this stage?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I have been doing everything I can to try to advance the cause of the National Concert Hall. The position is as I outlined. We have entered discussions with the Department of Education and Science, the Office of Public Works and UCD in regard to the Earlsfort Terrace site. Obviously this is contingent on UCD moving from the Earlsfort Terrace building to accommodation in Belfield.

On the configuration for the hall itself, the proposal put forward would involve the construction of a new auditorium with a capacity for up to 2,000 patrons, together with a smaller flexible configuration recital auditorium with a capacity for up to 400 patrons. Events could take place in both simultaneously. The existing auditorium would be refurbished and used by the RTE Symphony Orchestra for rehearsals and performances. Its current capacity of 1,200 seats would be reduced to 900 seats.

It is not possible to confirm if such a configuration would be adopted. It would be a matter of examining closely the financial cost and yield associated with such a proposal. The proposed project is still at the feasibility stage and no architect's drawings have yet been made. I appreciate the efforts of the chairperson of the National Concert Hall, Dr. Egan, and others to try to ensure the project is progressed. An effort was made originally to site the new national concert hall in the Dublin docklands area. Unfortunately, when push came to shove, the authority was unable to produce the necessary site. This brought us back to the site of the present National Concert Hall and the question of redeveloping the site with a view to providing a new national concert hall.

I said on many occasions in the past that despite the fact that this is one of the most creative and imaginative generations of Irish people ever, there is no public architecture in existence to give expression to this imagination and creativity. I sincerely hope we can change that.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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There is not sufficient urgency at this stage in regard to the matter. It is obvious that UCD is prepared to move both its medical and engineering faculties from Earlsfort Terrace.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question, please, Deputy.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I ask the Minister to grasp the opportunity because it may not be there indefinitely. Given that next year is the 25th anniversary of the concert hall, it is appropriate that a decision should be made as soon as possible so we will have a concert hall that will represent the musical tastes of the people of Ireland, provide a venue for the best of both Irish and international talent and which is befitting of the progress made in this country. At this stage, we have neither a national theatre nor a national concert hall comparable to other cities in Europe. As we have fallen totally behind in this regard, an initiative should be taken to ensure the concert hall will be provided as soon as possible.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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There is no lack of urgency. We have been having complex negotiations with the relevant parties. There are a number of issues involved, and when we have dealt with these, there is the whole question of the cost of the site and the cost of the reconstruction, both of which must be funded by the Exchequer. I hope we can reach a resolution in the talks, which are ongoing, and produce a memorandum for Government in the not too distant future. The talks are necessarily complex, which is not my fault. We recognise the need for a new national concert hall and we are trying to advance the project as quickly as possible.