Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport if her attention has been drawn to the fact that concerns have been raised in relation to the establishment of a national opera company and in particular, the effect this will have on the progress made in particular by a company (details supplied) in the recent past; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36769/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My predecessor announced a decision to set up Irish National Opera, INO, in December 2009 and appointed an interim board to undertake this task.

The process of forming this new entity is a collaborative one involving my Department, the Arts Council, Opera Ireland and Opera Theatre Company, OTC. The latter is fully engaged in that process and is represented on the interim board of INO.

The new opera company will not be in a position to produce its first full season until 2012 and one of the many challenges to be addressed in that regard is ensuring that public resources are available to meet the ambition of having a world class national opera company in Ireland. The Government remains committed to that ambition. In ensuring that we reach it we have taken the best advice internationally and the former director of the Welsh National Opera is on the interim board of the INO. Meanwhile, Opera Theatre Company will continue to produce opera in 2011 and will be funded to do so by the Arts Council. This has been agreed between the interim board, my Department and the Arts Council.

The building of a wider and more informed audience for opera is a crucial task for INO, which will have the mission of bringing opera to all ages and social groups. OTC has experience in this area and its outreach programme is one of its outputs. It has a wonderful track record artistically and is well managed. Regionally, it is the face, voice and sound of opera in Ireland.

It is of the utmost importance that future arrangements for opera provision in Ireland are organisationally well grounded and financially sensible, with due consideration given to putting appropriate arrangements and resources in place that will ensure the success of that endeavour over the coming years. It is also essential that developmental opportunities are provided for Irish opera talent and that we add to our cultural stock internationally. To this end, my Department and the Arts Council will continue to engage the interim board with a view to achieving a sustainable model for medium to long term opera provision in Ireland. As previously announced, Opera Ireland will be wound down after its autumn season, as its business model for opera provision is no longer sustainable in the current fiscal and arts funding environment. However, there will be public provision for opera in 2011.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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In light of the fact that Opera Theatre Company operates very successfully across the country, can the Minister assure us that the new national opera company will be able to stage a similar number of performances in the same range of venues? OTC tours around 18 venues all around the country and it allows many communities to experience opera. I am concerned that we will have a repeat of our experience of national theatre, which does not leave its home in the Abbey Theatre to tour the country even though it is heavily subsidised by the State.

OTC runs a tight shop on a budget of approximately €800,000. I understand OTC and Opera Ireland receive €1.8 million between them but getting the new company up and running will require €4 million. Where will this money be found?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In 2010, Opera Ireland will get €1.62 million and OTC will get €643,000, for a combined total of €2.263 million. It is my intention that the Arts Council will continue to fund OTC next year. As the Deputy noted, the company staged a considerable number of performances in a variety of venues. In 2009 alone it staged 42 performances in 28 venues to a live audience of 15,800. That is exactly what we want opera to do in Ireland. It must reach out to geographically diverse places and to different social groups. My intention is to ensure that Opera Ireland will only present a full programme when it is capable of doing so. In the meantime, we will ensure that Opera Theatre Company continues to be funded.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The Minister more or less answered my question. Was what she described an exercise in cost savings or was the decision made because the quality of opera would be enhanced by the merger of the two companies?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is the high standard of opera in Ireland, of course.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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So says the Leas-Cheann Comhairle as we look forward to the opening of the Wexford Festival Opera this weekend. It is in no way affected by any of these discussions. They do things differently in Wexford.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I look forward to welcoming the Minister to Wexford.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Go raibh maith agat.

It is very important that a new venture have the artistic and creative ability to provide a programme that supports young Irish artists and singers and which can gain international recognition. To do that, it must have proper staffing and an artistic director, in addition to a very good board and funding. In anticipation of the fact that no major programme will be capable of being provided until 2012, the best way to proceed is to continue to support next year Opera Theatre Company's current remit of bringing opera all over the country and to wind down Opera Ireland. This is preferable to beginning something that would not meet any of the requirements.