Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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275. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans in relation to the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra in order to secure the future of the orchestras; and the discussions she has had with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in this regard. [26708/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Both the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and I have welcomed the recommendations of the recent report which was commissioned by RTE and completed by Helen Boaden and Mediatique-RTÉ Orchestras Ensuring a sustainable future - included the main recommendations that:

- the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra should be a national cultural institution in its own right or within the National Concert Hall and

- the RTÉ Concert Orchestra should continue to be part of RTÉ, functioning as a classic 'radio' or Public Service Broadcasting orchestra, on the model of many such orchestras worldwide.

The report offers the opportunity now to plan a way forward for both orchestras and ensuring that they can contribute fully to Ireland’s rich cultural heritage.

Officials from my Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, have maintained ongoing contact since the report's publication and a memorandum will be brought to Government shortly on the proposed next steps in relation to the report.