Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

National Cultural Institutions

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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187. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are plans to extend the opening hours of the national cultural institutions under the remit of her Department during the summer months. [26146/22]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I brought the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce to Government in September 2021 and published it thereafter.  The Report contains 36 practical recommendations in the area of regulation, licensing, planning, transport, safety and increasing the diversity of activities as part of the night-time offering.  

The Night-Time Economy Taskforce examined a broad range of issues associated with the Night-time Economy with the aim of increasing the diversity of events, increasing cultural opportunities for families and other age-groups into the evening and also to look at new ways of encouraging innovation and creativity in the Night-Time Economy.  The National Cultural Institutions (NCIs) are key partners in this work.

While opening hours at NCIs are a matter for the Institutions themselves,  I am pleased to note that Department officials have had positive engagement from the NCIs on the development of evening and later night activity in the context of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce recommendation. In this context,  I understand that a number of the NCIs are planning a series of later openings this Summer and in some cases beyond the Summer.  These plans are currently being developed and details will be announced shortly.

Photo of Pauline TullyPauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the job titles of the staff members working in the National Concert Hall whose salary is fully covered by Exchequer funding in tabular form. [26160/22]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The National Concert Hall has traditionally been funded through a combination of Exchequer funding and income generated through its commercial activities. As such, the salaries of its staff members have traditionally been met from that mix of Exchequer and commercial revenues. 

In January of this year the Government approved the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra and Choirs from RTÉ to the NCH with effect from 24 January 2022.  Additional Exchequer funding was provided to the NCH to cover, inter alia, the full cost of the salaries of the members of the NSO and ancillary staff transferring from RTÉ, including 54 musicians and 9 ancillary staff. 

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