Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 June 2019
215. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeline for the proposed transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra to the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25887/19]
View answerFollowing the publication of the report by RTÉ that it commissioned from independent consultants Helen Boaden and Mediatique on the RTÉ Orchestras entitled RTÉ Orchestras Ensuring a Sustainable Future, the Government agreed in principle that the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (RTÉ NSO) should come within the remit of the National Concert Hall (NCH). The Government also authorised the initiation of discussions on the implementation of the recommendations of the report.
The overall aim of the Government decision in relation to the proposed transfer of the RTÉ NSO is to enable the orchestra to be established as a world class orchestra which would, with the NCH, provide a creative and imaginative programme strategy that would greatly enhance the offering of the combined organisation to the public.
An Oversight Group and Working Group have been established with formal terms of reference, with a view to identifying and addressing the relevant issues to be addressed to enable the successful transfer of the NSO from the remit of RTÉ to the remit of the NCH.
The work of the Oversight Group is continuing. At this point, it is considered that 2020 would be the earliest date for the completion of the proposed transfer.
