asked the Taoiseach having regard to the enormous cost of decorating, refurbishing and maintaining in an acceptable condition Georgian and Victorian commercial theatres and the enormous capital cost of replacing them with modern theatres and opera houses, if he will provide additional moneys to the Arts Council to introduce a scheme of support for such theatres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A supplementary sum of £500,000 was provided for the Arts Council in 1979 to enable it, inter alia, to respond to the financial difficulties of such theatres. The allocation to the council in 1980 was increased by about 30 per cent to £3 million, including a supplementary sum of £300,000.