Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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654. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeline for the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall; the moneys available to fund the proposed transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42002/19]

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.

As the Deputy may be aware, Budget 2020 included the provision of €1m to allow for the start of the process of transferring the National Symphony Orchestra to the remit of the National Concert Hall. 

Work is continuing to identify and address the relevant issues to enable a successful transfer.  Pending this work, it is considered that the process of transfer will commence in 2020.