andMr. T. Lynch asked the Minister for Finance whether it is intended to continue to pay an annual subsidy of £14,000 to the Abbey Theatre when it moves into occupation of the new theatre in Abbey Street.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Abbey Theatre.
24.
Mr. Ryan
It is the intention to review the question of the annual subsidy to the Abbey Theatre when it moves to the new premises and when some experience has been gained of the financial results of its operations in the new theatre.
25.
Mr. Ryan
andMr. T. Lynch asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a statement with which very many people agree that the Abbey Theatre today is not a national theatre; and if he will hold an inquiry into the position of the theatre.
26.
Mr. Ryan
andMr. T. Lynch asked the Minister for Finance if he will require that the Abbey Theatre Society allow other theatrical groups performing Irish drama into the new Abbey Theatre for some weeks in each year, with the benefit of the subsidy enjoyed by the Abbey.
27.
Mr. Ryan
andMr. T. Lynch asked the Minister for Finance whether, having regard to the fact that for many years the most significant Irish theatrical contributions have had no connection with the Abbey Theatre, he will cause to be made a full public inquiry into the desirability of subsidising the Abbey Theatre as opposed to a system of State subsidies for the Irish theatre in general, irrespective of connections with the Abbey Theatre.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 26 and 27 together.
I should be obliged if the Minister would answer one question at a time.
I could not do that now, I have seen the newspaper article referred to by the Deputies. Because of its special place in the cultural life of the country, the Abbey Theatre has received State assistance for many years past. These grants have taken the form of contributions towards meeting losses in the working of the theatre from year to year. These losses have arisen mainly because, in competition with other forms of public entertainment, the types of plays presented by the Abbey Theatre in fulfilment of its particular role, have not always proved financially profitable. I see no reason for the type of inquiry suggested by the Deputies and have no intention of considering any system of State subsidies for the Irish theatre in general. In addition, a certain amount of State assistance for Irish drama is already being afforded by the Department of Education, and Roinn na Gaeltachta and by An Bórd Fáilte. The question of accommodating other theatrical groups in the Abbey Theatre is primarily one for the management of that theatre.
I believe the Minister appoints one member of the Board of the Abbey Theatre. Would he ask the management of the Abbey Theatre to send the Abbey Players down the country where there are theatres willing and anxious to have them? There has been no Abbey tour for years and years. Even though the Abbey Theatre might not be getting the support here in Dublin we would wish it should get, or might only be getting the support it deserves, is the Minister aware that, down the country, the types of plays produced in the Abbey Theatre are played to full houses? Would he ask his representative on the Board to ask the Abbey Theatre to send their players down the country, and, while they are acting down the country, to open the Abbey Theatre to enable other Irish companies to put on Irish plays?
I shall certainly mention the sending of Abbey Theatre players down the country. I put to the company the suggestion, not long ago, of going abroad. The reason it was considered undesirable to do these foreign tours any more was principally financial. I do not know if that would apply to going down the country to places such as Waterford.