asked the Taoiseach the total cost to date of the National Concert Hall; and the receipts from the National Concert Hall for the years ended (a) 31 December 1982 and (b) 31 December 1983.

The total cost of the National Concert Hall to date is £5,615,227. This figure includes the capital costs of £5,000,907 for the adaptation of the Earlsfort Terrace premises and grants-in-aid towards operating costs of £614,320 for the years 1981 to date.

Apart from its grant, the hall's receipts for the years ended 31 December 1982 and 31 December 1983 amounted to £221,823 and £274,668 respectively.

Will the Minister of State agree with me that the National Concert Hall is one of the best and finest additions to the cultural life of this city and this country for a long time? Will he please convey to all those responsible for its running and administration my congratulations on the wonderful job they are doing?

I am happy to agree with the Leader of the Opposition that commercially and artistically it has been an outstanding success. It is a great joy to go there and I encourage all Members of the Oireachtas to go there on a regular basis to relax from constituency work.