Social welfare to be fast-tracked for Opera House staff

ARRANGEMENTS are being made to fast-track social welfare payments for staff of Cork Opera House, who will be temporarily laid off next month.

SIPTU officials who represent most of the theatre’s permanent staff met the theatre’s management team yesterday to discuss the temporary three-month closure of the venue from July 4 to September 29, which was announced at the weekend.

Key staff will be retained during that period to help the management team work on a new business plan to put the venue on a sound financial footing.