Written answers

Thursday, 15 November 2018

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

National Orchestras

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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17. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of her plans in respect of the development of the National Symphony Orchestra; if she remains committed to retaining the orchestra and bringing the orchestra to full strength; her plans regarding the role of the National Concert Hall in the future of the orchestra; if budget provisions for the orchestra for 2019 to 2021 have been made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47414/18]

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made in relation to the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47401/18]

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 25 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. It should be noted that the National Concert Orchestra will remain within RTÉ.

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.

In addition, the Government’s Creative Ireland programme commits to a range of important initiatives to support culture and creativity in Ireland, and the Department's 10 year National Development Plan, envisages major capital investment in our National Cultural Institutions, including a major re-development of the National Concert Hall. The National Concert Hall since it opened its doors in 1981 has been the home of the National Symphony Orchestra which provides the backbone to the Hall’s orchestral music programme. There is now an opportunity for the NSO to play an even stronger role as part of these wider developments and this should greatly enhance the offering of both organisations 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. The issues to be examined include funding and I will not prejudge what proposals officials might make regarding funding.

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.

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