National Orchestras

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Ceisteanna (539)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

539. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the €8 million allocated to the National Symphony Orchestra for 2021 is categorised as Covid-19 contingency funding in view of the fact the transfer of the orchestra to the National Concert Hall is unrelated to the pandemic; if this categorisation makes the €8 million a one-off allocation; and if it will affect the core funding allocation upon which future allocations will be based. [33201/20]

Freagraí scríofa

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

A significant amount of additional funding has been allocated to my Department as part of Budget 2021, including an increased allocation to provide for the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall to cover the estimated operating costs of the orchestra during 2021.

The question of funding for all activities under the remit of my Department for future years, including the National Concert Hall, will be considered as part of the estimates process for those years in the usual fashion.