Abbey Funding

RTÉ reports that the Abbey Theatre will receive €30.2m from The Arts Council in a funding plan which will run from 2009 - 2011.

The agreement is the second such arrangement between the Government body and the Dublin-based theatre, following a previous investment from 2006 - 2008, which saw The Abbey recover from a financial crisis in 2005

The new funding is designed to allow the Abbey roll out an ambitious theatre programme, which will include the presentation of new plays by Irish writers each year on both the national and international stage.

Under the new agreement, the theatre will receive €9.2m in 2009, €10.0m in 2010 and €11.0m in 2011 totalling €30.2m.

Speaking about the announcement today, Olive Braiden, chair of The Arts Council said: "The Arts Council is very proud of its role in putting the Abbey back on a sound and sustainable financial footing, and we're delighted to be able to announce another three-year funding arrangement for the theatre."