Vol. 530 No. 2
120 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the position with plans for a new or refurbished Abbey Thea tre; if costings for both options are available; when a decision will be made on the proposed plans; if the new theatre will be fully adapted for the needs of persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3385/01]
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 6 February. The board of the National Theatre has submitted proposals to me for the future capital development of the Abbey Theatre and the evaluation of these proposals is ongoing.
On the question of costs, the National Theatre Society has given preliminary estimated costs of £50 million for the option of redeveloping the existing site while it estimates a cost of between £75 to £90 million for the development of a new development on a green field site.
I can assure the Deputy that the needs of persons with disabilities will be taken fully into account in any plans for a new or refurbished building and that this would be a condition associated with any Government funding of the development .
