National Orchestras

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Ceisteanna (538)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

538. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the areas in which the €8 million additional funding promised in Budget 2021 to transfer the National Symphony Orchestra to the National Concert Hall will be spent; if the National Symphony Orchestra had been in receipt of State funding prior to the transfer; if so, the amount; and if the €8 million promised to the National Symphony Orchestra is entirely new State funding or is a transfer of its existing funding allocation within her Department. [33200/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

An allocation of €8m has been made to the National Concert Hall to allow for the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ. This will be a significant step towards the objective of enabling the orchestra to be established as a world class orchestra which will, with the NCH, provide a creative and imaginative programme strategy that will greatly enhance the offering of the combined organisation to the public.

The purpose of this funding is to cover the general operating costs of the orchestra.

The orchestra is currently funded through RTÉ and the funding provided under Budget 2021 represents new State funding.