Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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20. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeframe for the building of a theatre (details supplied) and related resources for the national theatre; the timeframe for the completion and opening of the project, including the development of the additional buildings acquired by the theatre along the Dublin quays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47413/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I launched my Department's capital plan 'Investing in our Culture, Language & Heritage 2018 - 2027' in April as part of Project Ireland 2040. This plan provides for total investment of over €1.2 billion over the next decade in our culture, heritage and language infrastructure. Under this plan there is an indicative investment of €80 million provided for this redevelopment project referred to by the Deputy which has been identified as a priority project by my Department.

The current building is over 50 years old and is widely recognised as being deficient in the facilities it provides for artists, audiences and staff and in terms of its energy efficiency. The new theatre building is intended to honour the history and legacy, whilst matching the national theatres of other European Capital Cities. The proposed new theatre will also contribute to revitalising a key area in Dublin 1, at the juncture of the two major Luas lines.

A business case was submitted to my Department in June 2018 that outlines the options for possible redevelopment of the theatre. As the cost of the theatre Redevelopment Project is over €20 million, a Cost Benefit Analysis will also need to be examined and reviewed by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform in the coming months as required under the Public Spending Code. The completion of these reviews will be a further step in progressing this project.

A number of high level meetings have taken place this year between the theatre and officials in my Department over this proposed redevelopment, including a meeting I had with the Chair of the Board of the Theatre last summer to discuss the vision for the project.

As the Deputy will also understand, that planning and construction of a facility as large and as costly as this project, must have a significant lead-in time. The project is still at a very early stage but progress is ongoing. Significant more work has to be undertaken before a clear time-line for this project emerges. However, Officials in my Department are continuing to work with the Theatre to bring this project to fruition.