Vol. 520 No. 4
241 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint a person from Waterford in the event of a vacancy arising on the planning and steering group for the proposed Academy for the Performing Arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15959/00]
242 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that early discussions take place between the planning and steering group for the proposed Academy for the Performing Arts and Waterford Institute of Technology with a view to locating disciplines of the academy in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15960/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.
The planning and steering group for the Irish Academy for the Performing Arts was set up on 27 January 2000, in order to develop, advise on, facilitate and monitor the process of establishing the proposed Academy for the Performing Arts.
The steering group is chaired by Dr. Danny O'Hare, former President of Dublin City University. It has representatives drawn from my Department, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, the Department of Finance, the Higher Education Authority, third level institutions, the Arts Council and bodies providing professional education and training in music, dance and drama. There are no vacancies on the steering group. The question of filling any vacancies will be addressed if and when a vacancy arises.
In approving the establishment of the proposed Academy for the Performing Arts, the Government agreed on a structure incorporating a headquarters and significant facilities on a site to be provided on the DCU campus; a Limerick campus developing the existing Irish World Music Centre at UL; and an undergraduate professional dance facility based at the Firkin Crane Dance Development Agency in Cork.
As part of its work the steering group is to make proposals about the longer term possibility of transferring elements of other educational bodies in the fields of music and drama to the academy and the facilities required and of incorporating other disciplines to make it a fully multi-disciplinary institution.
The steering group will consult widely with interested parties as part of its work and it will of course be open to Waterford Institute of Technology to participate in this consultation process.
