OPPOSITION has been expressed by members of the arts community and Fianna Fail to the pending closure of one Dublin's largest theatres, writes Emmet Oliver. The Department of Justice is seeking to turn the Riverbank Theatre on Merchants Quay into a courthouse, and is expected to conclude a leasing deal with the Franciscan order which owns the property shortly. It is seeking planning permission to convert the theatre, which was built in 1962 and has 400 seats.

Ms Sile de Valera, Fianna Fail spokesperson on Arts, Culture and Heritage, has called on the Minister, Mr Higgins "to step in and save" the theatre. "I accept that Dublin needs more courthouses to deal with the crime situation. But as I understand it, the Department of Justice was offered a number of different venues for courthouses in this area, some of which are still available," she said.

A spokesman for Mr Higgins said he "had received representations" and the matter was "being considered "The Council would be very concerned at the loss of yet another performance space in the city, particularly because the seating and layout of the Riverbank tended to encourage innovative young theatre companies, said Phelim Donlon, drama officer with the Arts Council.