Madam, - In your edition of September 22nd Michael Smith writes in relation to the redevelopment of the site of the Abbey Theatre on Abbey Street that "the most recent report from the OPW, which allegedly undermines the viability of staying put has not been made public on the basis that it related to the mysterious public-private partnership that has been mooted for the development".
Not only has the report not been published but when, as a shareholder and member of the Abbey Council, I contacted an official in the OPW and asked to see a copy of the report, I was refused access to it. The reason given for this refusal was that it was a public-private partnership venture, the details of which were not available even to shareholders.
I was so surprised that I asked the official if he knew what the Abbey Council was. His reply was that he did not propose to answer that question.
Michael Smith also pointed out that there do not seem to be clear reasons for moving the Abbey from its present site. These are serious charges and provide sufficient evidence to warrant, before the matter goes any further, a detailed explanation from the Office of Public Works. - Yours, etc,
ULICK O'CONNOR, Fairfield Park, Rathgar, Dublin 6.