Enda Kenny
Ceist:1 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Kenny den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas faoi bhunú lár-ionaid d'oirfidigh thaibhiúcháin i mBaile Átha Cliath mar atá geallta sa chlár Rialtais. [14694/98]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Performing Arts Academy.
Is oth liom a rá nach bhfuil mé ábalta na ceisteanna a fhreagairt as Gaeilge. Níl mo chuid Gaeilge chomh maith sin fós. I am sure the Deputy will understand if I answer the questions in English.
I refer the Deputy to the answer I gave to Question No. 390 on 26 May 1998. My colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, and I have jointly established a working group under the chairmanship of Mr. Noel Lindsay, former chairman of the Higher Education Authority, to examine and report on the feasibility of establishing an academy for the performing arts, including a conservatoire, at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin. The group has been asked to report back to me at a very early date.
Glacaim leis an rud a dúirt an tAire agus tá áthas orm go bhfuil an Ghaeilge á fhoghlaim aici agus ní chuirfidh mé brú uirthi mar sin. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal lei. Cé nach bhfuil sí in ann na freagraí a thabhairt i nGaeilge tuigeann sí an teanga go maith agus is féidir lei iad a thabhairt as Béarla más maith lei.
Cé mhéid daoine atá ar an gcomhairle a bhunaigh sí féin agus an tAire Oideachais a bhfuil baint acu le cúrsaí ealaíon?
We had an opportunity to discuss this yesterday during the Estimates debate, when I was able to give as much information as I have in regard to the working group. It was most important to set up such a working group, for a number of reasons. The first reason was, as I explained to the Deputy yesterday, that working between two Departments is always much more difficult than just taking a decision in one's own Department. That is why the Department of Education and Science, which has a great deal of responsibility in this regard, and my Department are working together. The committee was set up with a very focused remit and will report back to me in a number of weeks' time.
The Deputy was worried yesterday about whether we were pre-empting any decision, especially with reference to the fact that the working group remit's includes considering Earlsfort Terrace as a possible site. That was done as a result of my discussions with those in the music world who want a conservatoire in Dublin.
As I said yesterday, it is a disgrace that we do not have a performing arts centre. According to my information, we are the only EU state not to have such a facility. It is very important to such a centre in terms of the cultural growth of the country and to give young people an opportunity to train at such an institute in Ireland rather than having to go abroad. As I said yesterday to the Deputy, many of those who go abroad for training — because they have no choice — stay in their adopted countries and their talent is lost to Ireland.
It is important that the working group reports back quickly, which I am assured it will. I look forward to its report.
I share the Minister's view in regard to the necessity to have a centre for the performing arts in Ireland. We should have the best centre possible in the best location. I am not convinced Earlsfort Terrace is the best available site. The only member of the committee directly associated with the arts is the director of the Arts Council, who I am sure will do a good job. However, the preponderance of members from the Office of Public Works and the architectural profession and the fact the Government has said the centre will be placed on this site will inevitably lead to a situation of seriously escalating costs.
Does the Minister envisage this centre seeing the light of day during the lifetime of the Government? Will planning permission be granted and will funding be made available on foot of the working group's proposals? When does the Minister expect to receive the working group's report? Will the very sophisticated performing arts operation in Limerick under Micheál Ó Suilleabháin be taken into account in the working group's recommendations?
The tremendous work, talent and commitment of Micheál Ó Suilleabháin is recognised both here and abroad. As someone from the midwest, I appreciate the ever growing interest in music there. I envisage that a performing arts centre in Dublin would be complementary to the work being done elsewhere in the country. However, we do have the large scale facility which is needed.
In reply to the Deputy's first question, I would like to see this project in situ before the end of the Government's term.
We have exceeded the time allowed for this question and must proceed to the next.
We had not even laid the foundations.
I would have liked an opportunity to explain further. I will send the committee's membership list to the Deputy.
I have it.