The former Carlton cinema site is back in contention as a possible location for the new Abbey Theatre. And the Dublin Docklands Development Authority has offered the State a site at George's Quay, Minister for Arts John O'Donoghue told the Dáil.
He said he viewed the Carlton site on Dublin's O'Connell Street "as a real option" which he intended to explore further as soon as issues around the compulsory purchase order of the site had been resolved.
The Carlton site has re-emerged as an option following a High Court judgment last week on a compulsory purchase order.
However, Mr O'Donoghue said it was for the parties to the judgment, which did not include his department or the Office of Public Works, to evaluate its implications. A judicial review of Dublin City Council's agreement with the developer of the site is also awaited.
Until all the legal issues were resolved, "it would be premature for my department or the OPW to engage in negotiations on the Carlton site".
Exploratory discussions are ongoing with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, said Mr O'Donoghue.
In the ongoing saga over the redevelopment of the theatre, the Minister said he had arranged for a "trawl" of city centre locations and "that trawl has not yet reached a conclusion".
Pressed by Fine Gael arts spokesman Jimmy Deenihan about when a final decision on the redevelopment of the theatre would be made, Mr O'Donoghue said he believed it would be made during the lifetime of the Government. He said he was reluctant to give a timeframe because "we were unable, for reasons beyond our control, to announce a new site for the Abbey Theatre during its centenary last year."
The Carlton site was subject to the judicial review and "there is the possibility of a development going to the Supreme Court following a recent High Court decision".
Mr Deenihan asked if Mr O'Donoghue agreed with a proposal to conduct an opinion poll on the use of the Carlton site.
The Minister said, however, that it would not change the situation in any way.
"It would not resolve the legal difficulties because people have property rights under the Constitution, which they have a right to pursue in the courts."
