Following consideration by the Government, the re-location of the Abbey Theatre to the GPO complex will not to proceed.

This decision has been taken after a thorough examination of the Feasibility Study prepared by the Department and the Office of Public Works on the matter.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, said: "This decision was taken on the basis of the very significant potential costs involved, as well as on grounds of technical complexity, historical appropriateness, planning, conservation and heritage issues. Other significant factors in the decision related to the tenure and relocation of existing tenants of the GPO complex, including An Post".

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The Minister went on to say: "I will endeavour to ensure that the Abbey Theatre's accommodation in its current location is maintained to a suitable standard. The intervention made a number of years ago in the Abbey auditorium was an excellent one and ongoing investment there has addressed front-of-house, box-office, staging and mechanical issues.”

(BMcN/BMcC)