Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in relation to the development of the Abbey Theatre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30546/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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In July 2006, the Government decided to proceed with the redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre at George's Dock on a Build, Finance, Maintain (BFM) basis. It also approved the holding of an international design competition for the new Abbey Theatre. Once a winning design has been selected the building will be procured by means of a Build/Finance/Maintain (BFM) Public Private Partnership. The new building will:

Be a signature development, representative of a national theatre in the 21st century;

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;

Include three significant enlarged auditoria, Abbey, Peacock and a third multipurpose space; and

Entail a dedicated education, outreach facility, a publicly accessible archive, restaurant/bar, improved public areas, disabled access for audiences and artists, best practice theatre production facilities.

The Government has also approved an inter-agency group, representative of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Office of Public Works, the National Development Finance Agency, the Abbey Theatre and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority to oversee the project. This Interagency Group will be chaired by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. The winning design should be procured by early next summer.