Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1224. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of plans to move the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to within the remit of the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45060/18]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1225. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps taken to move the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to within the remit of the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45061/18]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1226. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the costs associated with moving the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to within the remit of the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45062/18]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1227. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the costs incurred to date in moving the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to within the remit of the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45063/18]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1228. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the moving of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to within the remit of the National Concert Hall has been costed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45064/18]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1229. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the structures put in place to enable the transfer of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to within the remit of the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45065/18]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1230. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the issues identified with the transfer of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to within the remit of the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45066/18]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1231. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when it is expected the transfer of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to within the remit of the National Concert Hall will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45067/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1224 to 1231, inclusive, together.

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 agreed in principle that the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (RTÉ NSO) 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.  The overall aim  of the Government decision in relation to the proposed transfer of the RTÉ NSO is to enable the orchestra to be established as a world class orchestra which would, with the NCH, provide a creative and imaginative programme strategy that would greatly enhance the offering of the combined organisation to the public.

An Oversight Group has been established with formal terms of reference, with a view to identifying and addressing the relevant issues to enable the successful transfer of the NSO from the remit of RTÉ to the remit of the NCH. The group has already met on two occasions. In addition, a Working Group, as a subset of the oversight group, has been tasked at examining the detailed issues involved in the proposed transfer of the orchestra.

No costs have been incurred by my Department to date in relation to this decision.  Both the Oversight and Working Groups will, inter alia, examine the costs involved in moving the RTÉ NSO to the National Concert Hall.  

At this point, it is considered that 2020 would be the earliest date for the completion of the proposed transfer.

My Department welcomes the opportunity to work with all stakeholders including the members of the  RTÉ NSO to ensure that it can contribute fully to Ireland’s rich cultural heritage.