The Irish Times

Rebuilding the Abbey Theatre on its current site would have cost €50 million, according to the Minister for the Arts. Mr O'Donoghue, who has ruled out the existing site and the former Carlton cinema for the redeveloped National Theatre, declined to name the locations currently being considered, "for reasons of commercial sensitivity". He was still "relatively confident", however, that he could announce the chosen location during the centenary year. "I hope to come to the Government very shortly with a recommendation and I sincerely hope it will be in a position to adhere to that recommendation and that we can then announce the site for the new National Theatre." Fine Gael's arts spokesman Mr Jimmy Deenihan, who raised the issue during arts, sport and tourism questions, said it was only 60 days to the end of the Abbey's centenary year.