asked the Taoiseach the reason there has been no response to the application for assistance from the national lottery towards the provision of a concert organ for the National Concert Hall.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Concert Hall.
4.
The chairman of the board of the National Concert Hall wrote on 23 March 1987 to seek lottery funding over a three year period for a number of capital projects at the National Concert Hall, including the provision of a pipe organ at a cost of approximately £300,000. A sum of £75,000 was allocated in November 1987 to enable the improvement of facilities at the Hall. Less than half of that allocation has been drawn down to date.
A recent application for additional lottery funding of £148,000 for further capital works does not include the organ.
Is the Taoiseach aware that there is a separate fund with very distinguished trustees who have embarked on a considerable fund-raising effort towards the provision of a pipe organ for the concert hall? I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that the National Concert Hall is one of the few in any capital city in the western world without a major concert organ. Will the Taoiseach arrange to assist this voluntary fund-raising activity and will he match pound for pound the funds raised by this distinguished group of trustees so that by 1991, on the tenth anniversary of the concert hall, he himself might be inaugurating this new pipe organ?
As I mentioned recently, I had hoped that when the new arts council is established, which will be done before the end of this year, they would handle all matters of this kind and we would hand lottery funds over to them for distribution. It can be quite difficult for the Minister or the Taoiseach to be involved in matters of this kind and to have to decide on priorities between one application and another. It is my wish that in due course all the funds would be handed over to the arts council and they would have responsibility for matters of this kind.
The Taoiseach will be aware that it is Fine Gael's viewpoint that the arts and culture funds should be administered through an independent arts council. Perhaps the Taoiseach would find time over the Christmas, maybe at home with his feet up, to watch a beautiful video prepared by Dr. Gerard Gillen, of the Concert Hall and which highlights the need for an organ there. I can assure him that he would find that video very informative and helpful.
That is a promise I have no difficulty in making to the Deputy.
On a point of order, could you assist me in relation to a letter I received in which you disallowed a question on Army pay——
Please, Deputy Connaughton, this is not a point of order and you know that. I will not allow the Deputy to disrupt questions in this manner.
A Cheann Comhairle——
The Deputy is completely out of order.
How can we bring up the question then?
If the Deputy wants any elaboration on that matter my office is at his disposal.
We cannot bring it up anywhere.