The Abbey Theatre is to be redeveloped at its existing site in Dublin, the Minister for the Arts, Ms Síle de Valera announced today.
Ms de Valera said she has already met members the board of the theatre and told them of the Government's decision to redevelop the Lower Abbey Street site.
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Minister for the Arts, Ms Síle de Valera
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It is expected the reconstruction could take up to three years to complete.
She said the "on-balance" expert advice from the Office of Public Works was that the theatre should remain where it was. This was also her own personal preference, she added.
The decision ends speculation that the theatre might be moved to a new site, possibly in the Dublin docklands area.
It was met with disappointment by the Green Party, who had favoured the development of the Carlton cinema site on O'Connell Street, which was recently purchased by the council.