asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the possible help from central funds or through the Arts Council for the restoration of the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Olympia Theatre Restoration.
4.
I have nothing to add to my reply to a similar question by the Deputy on 1st July, 1975, namely that the lessees of the theatre were pursuing against the lessors a claim to recover the cost of restoring the theatre and that pending the outcome, a decision on the application for State assistance did not arise.
The Minister's reply is very unsatisfactory. Dublin Corporation as the local authority have agreed in principle to give some money and this was sanctioned by the Minister for Local Government. Could the Minister not be more forthcoming and say that the Government would be agreeable at least in principle to giving some aid in this matter?
I think the Deputy is aware that there are a number of legal problems involved in this matter. There is not merely the question of the claim for the restoration of the theatre but there is also the question of the possibility of renewal of the lease in 1978. I am sure the Deputy will agree with me that this matter would have to be beyond all doubt before there could be a substantial investment of public moneys in a structure that, if a new lease was not forthcoming in 1978, would mean the investment would be totally negatived. The Deputy may be assured of my anxiety to assist in the matter but I must have regard to the other issues.
Did the Minister suggest that Dublin Corporation would not be in order in giving money out of public funds in this instance?
I have not passed any comment about the operations of Dublin Corporation. That is a matter for them but I consider in my obligations to taxpayers that I have to ensure if money is invested in a project that project has a life span of more than two years. It may well be that it may have that, but at present the legal advice available to me is not such as to justify putting a substantial amount of public money into this project.
I contrast the attitude of the Fianna Fáil Government towards the Cork Opera House. They cleared away all the legal difficulties and they were able to give money to rebuild the Cork Opera House.
In this case it is not a question of the Government being in a position to sweep aside the legal rights of others——
The last Government did not do that.
The Deputy is a member of Dublin Corporation. I may be wrong in this—my information is only what I read in the newspapers, although of course I rely on them as all of us do—but I understand there is perhaps a question of acquisition of certain rights in the theatre. If all these matters could be resolved the question of State investment could be looked at. However, until there is a certainly that the place in which the investment is made will be available for public use for several years to come, clearly I would not be justified in putting in money to restore a structure that would have only a very limited use.
I will quote the Minister's reply to the corporation.
I put it to the Minister that given that there are certain legal difficulties in the matter of renewal of the lease would it not be possible for him now to indicate that he is willing in principle to assist in the restoration of the threatre once any legal difficulties that remain are resolved?
The most important thing is for the legal uncertainties to be resolved. Then the matter can be looked at on its own merits.
With respect, I suggest to the Minister that he is prevaricating. There is a major difficulty for the people who have the interest in the remaining part of the lease, the uncertainty being that they are not in a position to proceed with restoration themselves. Because of the limited amount of money that Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council are prepared to advance, whether by way of loan or grant, it would require a commitment at least in principle from the Government to match the commitment of the corporation and the county council £ for £. That being so, would the Minister not give an indication that in advance of the legal difficulties being cleared, and when they are cleared, he would be willing, in principle, to make some assistance available?
The fact that I am well-disposed to this project is well known. The fact is on record. The question of the renewal of the lease is also the question of obligation on the part of the owners of the property to reconstruct it. If the owners of the property are under a legal obligation to reconstruct it then the question of any public money does not arise at all. Until the uncertainties are cleared away I would not consider it appropriate to give any commitment which might be totally unnecessary and which, by being given, might lead other people to fail to pursue rights which are available to them.
Can I take it that the Minister is saying in his reply regarding the legal difficulties that if members of the two local authorities who are prepared to give assistance to the Olympia vote for this money to go through they are liable to surcharge because the legal difficulties are not cleared up?
I have not said that.
Is that not implied?
I am not the legal advisor to Dáil Éireann.