The Irish Times

The Abbey Theatre should remain in a city centre location provided sufficient space is made available there, rather than move to the Dublin docklands, a report delivered to the Minister responsible, Ms de Valera, has concluded. The confidential report carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) was presented to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands this week. It said the Grand Canal Docks development, despite its many attractions and advantages, "cannot compete with a more prominent location of suitable size in the city centre if such were to be made available". It described the Grand Canal Docks site as inadequate to cater for such a development.