The Minister for Arts has told the Dáil that the new Abbey Theatre will not be built on its current site in Dublin.
John O'Donoghue also said the Carlton Cinema site on O'Connell Street would not be used.
The minister told Fine Gael's Jimmy Deenihan that he had asked the Office of Public Works to investigate alternative sites, which he did not want to identify at present.
However, he confirmed he still hoped to announce the new site during the current year.
Mr O'Donoghue added that construction work on the new stadium at Lansdowne Road was expected to begin in July 2006 and be completed by the end of 2008.
He said while there was asbestos in parts of the present structure, he did not expect the removal of that material would delay the new stadium.
