Vol. 558 No. 4
244 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the development of the Academy for the Performing Arts; the amount of money spent on the project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24439/02]
As the Deputy may be aware, in December 1999, the Government approved the establishment of an academy for the performing arts incorporating a headquarters at Dublin City University, a Limerick campus incorporating the Irish World Music Centre at the University of Limerick and an undergraduate professional dance facility based at the Institute for Choreography and Dance at Firkin Crane, Cork. The project was given a capital allocation of some €44 million to develop the new facilities over the period 2000-06. There will be no expenditure on the capital elements of the project in 2003.
The interim governing authority was launched by my predecessor, Deputy Michael Woods, on 29 April to drive forward the establishment of an academy. The authority is chaired by Ms Carmel Naughton. It has 12 other members representing a wide range of experience and expertise to ensure the development of a world class third level institute for the education and training of performing artists in Ireland.
The authority has met on three occasions since being appointed. It is actively engaged in progressing the work of the academy in both the recruitment process for its president and more generally its future development. To date some €43,976 has been spent on the work of the authority. This development work will continue in 2003 on the basis of the revenue budget available to the project.
