Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra to the National Concert Hall. [27685/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Following the publication of the report by RTÉ that it commissioned from independent consultants Helen Boaden and Mediatique on the RTÉ Orchestras entitled RTÉ Orchestras Ensuring a Sustainable Future, the Government  agreed in principle that the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) should come within the remit of the National Concert Hall (NCH), and authorised the initiation of discussions on the implementation of the recommendations of the report.

The overall aim  of the Government decision in relation to the proposed transfer of the RTÉ NSO is to enable the orchestra to be established as a world class orchestra which would, with the NCH, provide a creative and imaginative programme strategy that would greatly enhance the offering of the combined organisation to the public.

My Department has had extensive engagements with with both RTÉ and the NCH in order to progress developments and a number of issues are continuing to be addressed on ongoing basis. Further discussions are continuing and I look forward to further progress on this important issue.