Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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611. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the working group to undertake the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to the NCH; when it will report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31573/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Following the publication of the report by RTÉ that it commissioned from independent consultants Helen Boaden and Mediatique on the RTÉ Orchestras entitled RTÉ Orchestras Ensuring a Sustainable Future, the Government has recently agreed in principle that the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra should come within the remit of the National Concert Hall (NCH). The Government also authorised the initiation of discussions on the implementation of the recommendations of the report.

I will now establish an oversight group to begin discussions on the implementation of the Boaden Report's recommendations. My Department will chair the Oversight Group and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment will also participate along with representatives from the NCH and RTÉ. The purpose of the group will be to identify and address the relevant issues to enable the successful transfer of the NSO from the remit of RTÉ to the remit of the NCH. There will also be a working group which will consider the various operational and technical issues involved. It is expected that there will be extensive consultation with the employees of both orchestras.

I intend to establish both groups as soon as possible.