The Minister for the Arts, Mr O'Donoghue, should rule out "once and for all" the existing Abbey site as the location for the development of the national theatre.
Fine Gael's arts spokesman, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, said it was "creating confusion" that the theatre's current location had not been ruled out given the difficulties acquiring adjoining sites.
However, resisting the call to rule out the current site of the theatre for redevelopment, Mr O'Donoghue told the Dáil that "we need further information, but there is no doubt that a serious problem exists regarding the acquisition of properties".
He stressed, however, his "determination to have decisions taken on the redevelopment of the Abbey theatre in this, its centenary year".
The Minister said "my personal preference, in common with that of many other cities around the world, would be for the theatre to be redeveloped at its existing location, but I cannot ignore the realities of price and design".
Mr Deenihan said "as the centenary of the Abbey theatre is on December 27th, would it not be prudent to make an announcement by then to celebrate that event".
Mr O'Donoghue replied: "I am aware that it is the centenary year of the Abbey theatre, and naturally because of that I am anxious to provide an answer to the problem faced by the theatre. I will do everything I can to come to an early conclusion."
In the long-running saga over the planned redevelopment of the Abbey, proposals to acquire adjacent sites to expand the theatre were considered, but there were major problems of "price and design".
The former Carlton cinema site on O'Connell Street is one of the options being considered, and a High Court judgment on a compulsory purchase order by Dublin City Council is imminent.
Mr Deenihan asked, if the ruling was in favour of Dublin City Council, "does the Minister believe the Carlton is now the preferred option?"
Mr O'Donoghue said he would be "disposed towards the Carlton site or any other in the city centre which would provide a location for the theatre".
