Vol. 506 No. 1
3 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the progress, if any, made in the past two months regarding the provision of a centre for performing arts at UCD; the meetings, if any, which have taken place in that period; the stage at which negotiations are regarding the UCD authorities vacating the premises at Earlsfort Terrace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14735/99]
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 3 of 29 April regarding the proposal to establish an academy of performing arts at the UCD property in Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. I mentioned at that time that the interdepartmental working group set up by the Minister for Education and Science and myself had recommended in its interim report – copies of which were placed in the Oireachtas Library on 12 May – that further discussion was needed to identify the precise areas of specialised training required and indeed the precise model for an academy in Ireland.
The Minister for Education and Science and I have engaged the services of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London to conduct a study, the specific terms of reference for which are to report on the appropriate scope and content for the proposed academy for the performing arts in Ireland; the areas of immediate and longer term specialisation appropriate to the academy; the process to be adopted to achieve the preferred model and the potential, if any, for rationalisation of existing courses.
The Guildhall has wide experience in the teaching and practice of the performing arts and will be able to bring an added outside perspective to the issues involved. In order to prepare its report the Guildhall is currently having discussions with a number of institutions and persons, many of whom took the time and trouble to make written submissions to the interdepartmental working group.
We expect that the Guildhall study will be completed by the end of June and when completed the recommendations will be considered by our two Departments. Pending receipt of this study, it is not considered appropriate to address the question of the vacation of the UCD premises. In this connection we have received a separate preliminary feasibility study prepared on behalf of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, the Gaiety School of Acting, the College of Dance and Dublin City University on the establishment of an Irish Academy of Performing Arts that has been submitted recently to the Department of the Taoiseach.
I believe the Deputy will agree that it is vitally important that the scope and content of the proposed academy be discussed with interested pro fessionals so that resources that are invested in the academy will be put to best use. The traditional models for an academy or conservatoire are being questioned and critically examined in the context of the multidisciplinary needs of those who wish to make worthwhile careers in the practice of the performing arts and also in the context of developments in modern technology.
Contemporary thinking emphasises the need to ensure that such educational institutes are seen to be part of the communities in which they are located and are capable of reaching out to the wider educational community rather than being perceived as elitist specialist institutions. It is, therefore, critical to devise the right model and artistic mix to satisfy contemporary needs and this is the task in which we are engaged.
My question refers to the past two months. What is the target date for completion of the centre for performing arts? What is its overall projected cost? What is the overall projected cost of the purchase from UCD of its Earlsfort Terrace property?
I thank the Deputy for acknowledging that work has been done in terms of the studies which have been carried out since his last inquiry on this issue. Currently, we are looking at the content of courses for the performing arts. This, obviously, must be done in a systematic way. Given the fact that Ireland does not have such a centre, it is important to consult countries which have one. It is also important to note that the traditional models of an academy or conservatoire are being questioned and there are some critical views of this within a European context. It is essential that we establish the correct model here, which is most up to date and effective. We see it as being part of the community and not as an elitist or specialist institution.
As the Deputy will appreciate, we are looking at the content of the courses and where they will be located and until those reports have been completed and reviewed, we will not be able to supply the costings which he requested. We hope to have the report from the Guildhall in June and the other report which I mentioned is already at hand. It will form part of the Guildhall's deliberations on the matter. We will then make our decisions on foot of that. At that stage, I will be able to supply further information to the Deputy on the costings.
The Minister did some valuable work during the week on the National Inventory of Architectural and Historic Buildings. She reduced the period for its completion from 40 years to 12. I hope that the assessment of the models and the analyses of the criticisms in Europe will not drift for such a period.
The report will be ready in June.
Has UCD confirmed that it is willing to dispose of the property in Earlsfort Terrace for the centre for performing arts? If so, is it not better, assuming that the Government is intent on setting up the centre there, to discuss a price, given that property prices in Dublin have increased phenomenally over the past number of years?
These matters are under discussion and, therefore, it is not appropriate to go into the costings. However, I assure the Deputy that there will be no delay on our part, nor has there been since the beginning. We hope to have the information correlated by June, particularly in regard to the models that might be involved. This will be announced as a millennium project.
