Vol. 500 No. 5
158 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements, if any, in place to provide a national centre for the performing arts including a conservatoire at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; the meetings that have taken place to date, formally or informally; the individuals and organisations involved; the members of the working group involved; and the contacts, if any, made with University College Dublin for the purchase of the building required. [4474/99]
My Department is currently considering the recommendations of the working group set up to report on the establishment of an academy of performing arts including a conservatoire in Dublin. The membership of the working group has been set out in a press release covering this issue and I am forwarding a copy of this to the Deputy. The working group received 28 submissions from institutions and individuals and met on four occasions in plenary session with two further meetings on specific issues. The group also had discussions with representatives of the university as part of the consultative process.
The working group presented its interim report on 31 July 1998 and the recommendations contained in the report, including funding for the project, are under active consideration by my Department. The project has been the subject of a number of meetings internally in my Department dealing with operational matters generally.
