Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the international design competition announced in September 2006 for the proposed new national theatre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19552/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Last autumn the Government decided to proceed with the redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre at George's Dock on a build, finance and maintain basis. Arising from the Government decision, an interagency steering committee was set up to oversee the project. The committee is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives of the National Development Finance Agency, the Office of Public Works, the Abbey Theatre and the Dublin Docklands Development Agency.

The steering group has met three times and is due to meet again on 20 July. A process auditor has been appointed, in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines. At its first meeting in December 2006, the committee decided the Office of Public Works should prepare the documentation necessary for holding an international design competition for the new Abbey Theatre.

A project team, chaired by the Office of Public Works and representative of the same agencies as the steering group, with the exception of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, has also been set up and is currently overseeing the arrangements for holding the international design competition. The OPW has asked the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, RIAI, to organise the competition. The RIAI, with the assistance of the OPW, is in the process of drafting the competition regulations. The technical documentation for the competition must be carefully specified. A jury is also being set up to select the winning design. The jury will have representatives from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the OPW, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, the Arts Council, the Abbey Theatre and some international figures in the architectural and theatre worlds.

Discussions are currently ongoing between the Abbey and the OPW on the detailed accommodation brief for the new theatre. In the meantime, the OPW is working on the preliminary drafting of output specifications. It is also liaising with the NDFA on assembling technical advisor teams, with a view to progressing the project as much as possible while the design competition is being held.

The NDFA has recently appointed legal advisers arising from a market exercise. When a winning design has been chosen the NDFA will oversee the procurement process in accordance with PPP guidelines.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate the Minister on taking over his new portfolio and wish him the best of luck.

The issue of providing a new national theatre has been going on for approximately ten years. As the Minister said, last July, the relocation of the national theatre to George's Dock was approved by the Government. The then Minister made a public statement in September that there would be an international design competition. On 26 October last year, the previous Minister said he hoped to have a design by the summer of 2007. We are now well into the summer, yet we still do not have a competition, not to mention a design. I hope there will be no further procrastination. There is a need for a new national theatre. The temporary arrangement, including the provision of new seating, is not good enough. Will the Minister give us a realistic timescale for the publication of the international design competition? How long will it take to process the various interests that respond? Realistically, when does the Minister think the first block will be laid for the new theatre?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his kind wishes. The portfolio is a bit of a change from social welfare. I look forward to working with the Opposition spokespersons for the benefit of the arts, sport and tourism in Ireland.

The completion date I have for the entire project is 2010. In the course of the next three years, therefore, all these steps must be taken. The best estimate I have from the Department is a completion date, all going well, of mid-2010. We will get through all these processes in the next three years, including the design competition, the PPP development, the National Development Finance Agency, and the procurement process. In the coming 36 months, all of those hurdles must be overcome.

I would like to see a landmark building emerging from this development. This generation has been slow to provide such edifices. The quality of architecture is first class and that is why I am glad we are holding a truly international competition. This generation has been somewhat shy, however, in leaving the nation with some good, iconic, landmark buildings. This will be an opportunity to do so.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I certainly agree with the Minister's remarks. I believe €130 million was earmarked for this development and I ask the Minister to confirm this. Is the Minister entirely confident that the jury, to use his word, that has been selected will have the competence to judge this international design competition? Perhaps international consultants could be added to help the jury.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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If the Deputy has any suggestions regarding international consultants I will certainly consider them. We are proposing to include international figures from the worlds of theatre and architecture on the jury.

Regarding costing, this project is a public private partnership so, in that sense, it is difficult to produce an exact figure but it is expected to be around €150 million. One must appreciate that this figure dates from 2004 or 2005 and may not be the same in 2010.