asked the Taoiseach if he considers it desirable that the National Concert Hall, which in the past has been financed by a grant-in-aid from his Department, should in future be financed from the national lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The National Concert Hall will receive a grant in 1989 of £170,000 the same as in 1988 and 1987. There has been no reservation by the National Concert Hall Board about the fact that the grant is from the national lottery.

I put it to the Tánaiste that, at this time, it would be far more satisfactory if the National Concert Hall was put on a sound financial footing rather than have it dependent on the national lottery on a year to year basis. Would the Tánaiste say why this Government have decided that the National Concert Hall will not receive a grant-in-aid from the Taoiseach's Department but rather would be funded from national lottery funds? Would the Government not consider allowing them to have some independence and be funded by grant-in-aid from the Taoiseach's Department?

None of the National Concert Hall Board members has expressed any reservations in regard to the funding. Their main interest is to get the funds. I take it that it is a realistic fact of life that we will always have the national lottery with us and that it will provide a secure and continuing source of funding. Therefore, from which channel funds emanate is irrelevant, in my view, so long as they are made available and the work is done.