Seán Ryan
Question:86 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals to develop the National Concert Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19085/02]
Written Answers. - National Concert Hall.
The National Concert Hall, NCH, is the premier and most successful venue for classical musical performance in Dublin. It was built within the Earlsfort Terrace complex and shares its accommodation with University College Dublin. From the outset it was recognised that the overall space allocated to it and its backstage accommodation was limited.
Since 1981 the NCH has developed as a venue for many forms of musical performance in addition to classical music. Last year, the NCH catered for over 300,000 patrons. The inadequacies inherent in the original location are now a serious constraint on its operations and further development. In addition, it most notably lacks a self-contained auditorium for musical performances of a more intimate character.
A high level group comprising the Secretaries General of the then Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, the Department of Education and Science and the chairman of the Office of Public Works, established in July 2000 to examine and report on all the issues involved in relation to the NCH at Earlsfort Terrace, recommended, inter alia, that a 2,000 seater concert hall be built with modern facilities in such a fashion as would permit for future development. On foot of Government consideration of the report of the high level group, the Office of Public Works was asked to put together in consultation with the management of the National Concert Hall a full brief of the physical and other requirements tailored to serve the needs of the National Concert Hall for the foreseeable future and to consider how this brief might be accommodated at Earlsfort Terrace in the event of that site being available for development.
This report has been received and is being examined.
Question No. 87 answered with Question No. 85.