Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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985. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she supports the National Concert Hall in its key strategic objective between now and 2020 to ensure the complete refurbishment of the venue (details supplied). [26250/16]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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986. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that Earlsfort Terrace was earmarked for the future development of the National Concert Hall and for the arts in 2006, the reason an exploration station, a children's interactive science museum, is now being located within the north wing of the Earlsfort Terrace building; if such a development in this location will not hamper the future development of the National Concert Hall; and if the rest of the site will be kept for the arts and for music in particular, in line with the original vision for the site or if there are any other plans for more third party organisations from outside the arts to be given space at Earslfort Terrace. [26251/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 985 and 986 together.

My Department is supportive of the development of an overall plan to advance and manage the development of National Concert Hall within the overall Earlfort Terrace complex and has been engaging with the Office of Public Works and the National Concert Hall in this regard.

The proposed development of Exploration Station, a children’s interactive science museum, within the North Wing of the Earlsfort Terrace building, is a matter for the Office of Public Works. However, I can assure the Deputy that all interested parties are working together to ensure that the development of the Exploration Station and the future requirements of the National Concert Hall will be carefully managed together, including within the context of the overall management plan referred to above. Part of the consideration in this regard will be to exploit the positive impacts of providing a major science facility for children in the same complex as the national venue for music.