I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Deputy de Valera, to the House.
Adjournment Matter. - Abbey Theatre.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I welcome the Minister. I am sure she has heard all angles concerning the proposed relocation of the national theatre, but I have a proposal which may be new to her. The theatre is in a central location on the north side. It is only a stone's throw from where I have lived since I came to Dublin and I used attend it quite frequently in the past. It is in my constituency and also that of the Taoiseach. We are very reluctant to see a cultural resource and institution being relocated. O'Connell Street and the area around it, including the theatre, is the most central area of the city not just for the residents but also for visitors. Busáras, Connolly Station and the DART are close by and within easy walking distance of the Abbey Theatre. It is ideally located. The new Luas nexus will also converge on O'Connell Street. That will enhance public accessibility and should be taken into consideration when considering a future location for the national theatre.
The role of a cultural institution is not just a cultural matter. It depends very much on accessibility. There is not much sense in having a wonderful cultural institution if it is an ivory tower at a distance removed. Neither of the dockland proposals before the board, one on the south side and one on the north side, merit as much consideration as either a rebuilding or reconstruction and expansion of the current building or a move to an adjacent location. It is not a question of whether it is north side or south side but of what will be best in the future. How we see the development of our national theatre as a central cultural resource is important. Dublin is the place for it, particularly the environs of O'Connell Street.
I am chairman of the monitoring committee of the integrated area plan for O'Connell Street. It is a £35 million development scheme and its purpose is the revitalisation and reconstruction, where necessary, of O'Connell Street and the surrounding area. The Abbey Theatre and its environs come within the remit of the committee. We discussed it at length last Monday and I put forward the following motion:
This monitoring committee views with dismay the decision by the board of the Abbey theatre to relocate. It is strongly of the view that the decision is damaging to the work of the committee in ensuring that the O'Connell Street area is revitalised and is restored as the central hub of the capital city and invites the Abbey board to a special meeting to discuss the future of the national theatre.
We hope to have that meeting. I do not consider that the board should determine the future location of the national theatre. It is the Minister's remit and the final decision will be taken by the Department. The board can only make a recommendation.
We acknowledge that the Abbey Theatre building is an ugly building and not of great architectural merit. It requires both reconstruction and expansion. We have two alternatives. The adjacent VHI building could be purchased or what may be even more advantageous is to consider O'Connell Street itself. There is a series of developments taking place in that street. At the lower end the EIS has been accepted and on 20 December 2000 the Minister gave the go-ahead for the construction of the spire monument. That will be accompanied by the central plaza, an area for open air restaurant and cafe activities.
At the other end of the street there is the old Carlton cinema site opposite the Savoy cinema and the old Fingal County Council buildings, both of which are lying idle, and the surrounding derelict buildings. There are five or six large spaces facing on to O'Connell Street. This area could be purchased from the Carlton consortium for use by the Abbey Theatre – the site stretches back into Henry Street. There are plans by the Shelbourne owners for a top of the range modern hotel at the corner of that street. The ILAC Centre at the other side will be totally revamped with a new library and other development. There will be a cluster of new developments at that corner of O'Connell Street.
The Gate Theatre is also at that end and the old Ambassador cinema building is awaiting redevelopment. This area could become a centre for culture and entertainment. The Carlton consortium had difficulty with planning permission because it was opposed by another consortium and it went to a judicial review but that has been resolved. However, the consortium has been dragging its feet. At Dublin Corporation's last meeting we considered the possibility of a compulsory purchase order for that whole area if there was no progress.
O'Connell Street is soon to receive an area conservation designation and it will become a special building control area. This will put O'Connell Street on the map and to move the Abbey Theatre from Abbey Street to the centre of the capital city would effectively turn O'Connell Street into the Broadway of Ireland. This would be the means whereby O'Connell Street would at last be reinstated as the prime street in our capital city and in Ireland.
I welcome this opportunity to respond to Senator Costello's motion regarding the redevelopment of the national theatre. The Abbey Theatre and Peacock Theatre, which constitute the national theatre, are housed in three buildings on Abbey Street. In 1994 The National Theatre Society commissioned an architectural review of the buildings which concluded that as a highly mechanised building of the 1960s, its plant and machinery is becoming obsolete and, consequently, in time the building will become unusable. The report went on to state that the inherent inadequacies of the 1960s design are undermining the experience of audiences and artists who expect a higher level of comfort, service and safety.
In 1999 the Board of the National Theatre Society Limited submitted a number of options to me which it had considered to obviate the inadequacies that the architectural review of the buildings had highlighted. At that time its preferred option was for the redevelopment of the theatre at its existing location. While it was clear in the proposals that the existing site was limited in size and scope, it was intended that these limitations would be minimised with imaginative design and the maximum use of space. This option was in keeping with my preference of retaining the theatre at its present historic location at Lower Abbey Street. This continues to be my preference.
While my examination of these proposals was proceeding, I received word from the board of the national theatre that it was re-evaluating its options in response to intimations that sites at several other locations, including one owned by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority at Grand Canal Basin, were likely to be available. Accordingly, the board advised me on 27 October 2000 that its preferred option was for the redevelopment of the national theatre at the Grand Canal Basin site.
At my request, the Office of Public Works carried out an analysis of the merits of this option and its report was submitted to me on 6 February 2001. There is concern in the report that the site on offer at Grand Canal Basin may not fully fulfil the brief of requirements as outlined by the board of the National Theatre Society or provide the scope for any future possible expansion. I have asked the society to revisit this option and to advise me further. In light of the Office of Public Works's report and given my preference, which I have expressed on a number of occasions in the past, that the national theatre should if at all possible remain at its present location on Abbey Street if design constraints could be mitigated, I have asked the Office of Public Works in conjunction with Dublin Corporation and in consultation with the National Theatre Society to explore and to report to me on the options that exist in the matter of acquiring additional site space adjacent to the existing Abbey site with a view to developing a new landmark theatre at this location. This report will also consider other possible city centre relocation options and will inform my consideration of the future development of the national theatre, including the proposals which I will bring to Government in due course. I hope to receive the report from the Office of Public Works by the end of March.
The National Theatre Society estimated a cost of £50 million in 1999 for the carrying out of a full redevelopment of the existing building and site. The costs of a development on an expanded site at Abbey Street have yet to be advised to me and there would also be costs associated in acquiring additional site space at this location. The estimated cost of building a new theatre on the Grand Canal Basin site has been set down by the National Theatre Society at between £75 million and £90 million The cost of developing on any other greenfield site in a suitable and central location in the city would be of a similar amount. Site acquisition costs would also have to be considered.
There can be no doubt that from an operational and artistic point of view, our national theatre, encompassing the Abbey and Peacock venues, requires a major programme of redevelopment and refurbishment. I have made clear my wish to support the board of the national theatre in its plans to create a national theatre which can look with confidence to affirming its role at the heart of theatrical development in Ireland as the theatre approaches the centenary of its own foundation.
The Abbey Theatre is a "landmark theatre" in internationally recognised theatrical terms. It has won international acclaim over many years for its high standards of writing, productions, and performances. It is of national significance in giving cultural expression to Irish values and nationhood, and conveying those sentiments abroad when on tour.
The importance of the national theatre, therefore, must be reflected in any redevelopment decisions from suitable site selection to proper public and performance spaces, with access for all as well as high architectural and design standards.
If the national theatre is to be relevant to audiences in the 21st century and to reassert itself on the national and international stage, it is incumbent on the State to ensure that the best possible development is undertaken. In bringing any proposal to Government I will be cognisant of this responsibility.
I am gratified to hear that the Minister is considering expansion in the general area or looking for another site. The monitoring committee I spoke about has a brief under the aegis of Dublin Corporation to redevelop the O'Connell Street area. Would it be possible for the Office of Public Works to have a meeting with the committee to put forward proposals?
Is the Senator suggesting that this information come through Dublin Corporation?
The body with hands-on responsibility for the development of the O'Connell Street area is the monitoring committee of the integrated area plan for O'Connell Street, appointed by Dublin Corporation and is composed of councillors and other business and cultural representatives. That committee has a brief to look also at the Abbey Theatre in terms of how it will fit into the overall plans.
I would be very happy to hear the monitoring committee's proposals. It is a question of arranging an appropriate mechanism. I look forward to hearing from the Senator so that arrangements can be made.
The Seanad adjourned at 8 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 22 February 2001.