Fears that the Abbey Theatre redevelopment would become a "saga" like the long-running controversy over the national stadium, were expressed in the Dáil yesterday.
Fine Gael's arts spokesman, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, voiced his concern about the project after the Minister for Arts, Mr O'Donoghue, said that it would be "premature" to speculate on the likely overall cost and starting date for redevelopment.
The Government has agreed to invite "expressions of interest" for a public/private partnership "in and/or around the vicinity of the existing theatre site" in Dublin. It is expected to take four months to have a "panel of experts in place" when interest is sought from the private sector. The Minister, however, did not know what the timescale for the redevelopment would be after that.
Mr O'Donoghue stressed that he would "seek to ensure there is no delay in the project". Firstly however, the Office of Public Works has to put a notice in the official journal of the European Union seeking tenders.
Mr Deenihan asked what contingency plans the Minister had in place if a satisfactory private-sector client could not be found. He also wanted to know whether the public or private side of the partnership would acquire adjacent buildings.
The issue of who would buy the properties "will be part of the consideration with the OPW will give in formulating the invitation", Mr O'Donoghue said.
The current national theatre site "has an historic and emotional resonance for many people" and it was "desirable" to redevelop on the current site. Iif adjacent properties could not be acquired "there are alternatives" which could be looked at, Mr O'Donoghue added. The preferred option, however is to build on the present site and expand it.