Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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101. 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 National Concert Hall; when it will report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39705/18]

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 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.

A first meeting of an oversight group to begin discussions on the implementation of the Boaden Report's recommendations met in July to discuss terms of reference. These are now being finalised and the Group will meet again shortly. The purpose of the group is 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.

A Working Group will also be set up which will look at the detailed issues involved in the proposed transfer of the orchestra. I expect that this group will be established shortly.