Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress of the transfer of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra following the publication of RTÉ Orchestras: Ensuring a Sustainable Future; the specific actions which have been undertaken to consult with members of the orchestra; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16756/19]

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  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 and Working Group have been established with formal terms of reference, with a view to identifying and addressing the relevant issues to be addressed to enable the successful transfer of the NSO from the remit of RTÉ to the remit of the NCH.  

The work of the Oversight Group is continuing.  The Group has met on a number of occasions and has agreed on the importance of a proper communication process between the Oversight and Working Group and representatives, members and support staff of the NSO,  to ensure that the orchestra is informed on a timely basis about all aspects of the proposed transfer of the NSO, and can input to the process. In this regard, a meeting has already been held with representatives of the NSO to update them on developments to date.  It is intended to arrange another meeting shortly with representatives of the NSO for a further update.