Vol. 217 No. 11
asked the Minister for Finance if, having regard to the serious loss to the fine arts and persons employed in the theatre which would be occasioned by the closing of the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, he will have discussions with all parties interested in the future of the theatre with a view to keeping it open, and provide a Government subsidy for same.
15.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the growing public uneasiness about the disappearance of live theatre in Dublin; whether the Government will provide assistance to ensure that the capital city has an adequate supply of theatres to meet the nation's cultural requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
While I have no official information on the matter, I understand that an application has been made to the Dublin Corporation for planning permission to erect an office block on the site of the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.
It is a matter for regret that public support for the live theatre has diminished in Dublin, as in many other cities, and that, in consequence, this situation has arisen in regard to the Gaiety Theatre. Public moneys are, however, already heavily committed to cultural objectives in Dublin, including the re-building of the Abbey Theatre and the erection of the Kennedy Memorial Hall. Financial conditions at present make it extremely difficult to accept any addition to these commitments, particularly in relation to an individual theatre. I should add that my predecessor had consultations with leading dramatic groups and other interested persons on the possibility of some State support for the professional theatre in the country as a whole. I have been having similar consultations and I propose to continue them. I cannot say, however, at this stage what the outcome is likely to be.
Is the Minister aware that many countries abroad have furnished financial aid for the professional theatre and, being himself a patron of the theatre in question, would the Minister have regard to the bleak outlook for the living theatre in this city and country, if the Gaiety Theatre goes, and will he review his consideration of the matter?
Where are you going to borrow the money for that?
The Deputy is a member of Dublin Corporation. He will remember that when a similar situation arose in Cork, the Cork Corporation did something positive in this direction and so did the public of Cork.
The Minister says he proposes to continue consultations in regard to this matter. Would the Minister tell the House if he has made any inquiries at all up to now?
About what?
About the Gaiety Theatre.
I told the House that I was continuing consultations that my predecessor had initiated with groups and individuals interested in theatre generally in the country, with a view to seeing what, if any, subvention could be made available for the professional theatre in the country as a whole.
Is it not obvious that just because this theatre is not paying, excuse can be made to sell it for an office block? Is the Minister aware that the best site for an office block would be the General Post Office? If the Post Office is not paying, it would seem from the trend in Dublin that we would sell the General Post Office and that its historic associations would not count.
