Vol. 417 No. 5
14 Mr. Enright asked the Taoiseach if he has satisfied himself with the existing arrangements at the National Museum regarding the hours in which the library is open to the general public; whether he has any plans to extend the opening hours of the National Museum; and if he has satisfied himself with the existing service available to the general public.
The National Museum building at Kildare Street and the Natural History Museum at Merrion Street are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The ground floor of the building in Merrion Row which houses a geology exhibition is temporarily closed due to lack of attendant staff.
Given the present level of staff, it is not possible for all the exhibition areas in the National Museum to be open to the public simultaneously. Some rooms have to be closed for some hours each day, generally during lunch hours, but all are open outside those hours. In addition, every effort is made to facilitate special requests to view areas during the hours when they are closed.
I believe that the National Museum is providing a good service to the public given the current financial constraints which operate and it is not intended to extend the opening hours at this stage.
While I welcome the proposal to open some parts of Government Buildings on Saturdays, I must express regret that the National Museum is closed all day Monday and each evening from 5 p.m. and that certain areas of the National Museum are closed on a regular basis. Would the Minister of State agree that he should be dissatisfied with the present level of accessibility to the National Museum for the Irish people and for overseas visitors?
I referred earlier to certain moves that are being made regarding staffing levels and the Deputy should wait to see how things develop in the future. However, there is always the problem of finance and I would ask the Deputy to bear with us with regard to staffing and he can be assured I will monitor the situation.
Can the Minister of State indicate how matters have progressed in the last year? I note the presence of Deputy Haughey in the Chamber: one of the things he secured was the opening of the important geological collection to the public. I am dismayed to learn that it is closed again because of lack of staffing. Can the Minister of State indicate whether that is the only area that has been closed off in the past year because of a shortage of staff? Is it likely that other sections of the National Museum will be closed to the public in the near future because of the appalling staffing levels?
I do not take any satisfaction from the fact that any part of our National Museum and our treasures are closed to the public. I accept that much work has to be done and I intend to focus my attention on the need to provide access for the public. It is a source of regret that any part of the National Museum is closed to the public but like every other Minister, I have to work within the level of resources available at this time of constraint on the public finances.
I repeat, I have already given considerable attention to this aspect of our National Museum and I said earlier that staffing levels were being addressed. I will monitor the situation and endeavour to ensure that the present circumstances are improved.
Has the Minister any plans or has he considered opening the National Museum for, perhaps, two evenings a week until 9 p.m.? On occasions the National Library is open until 9 p.m.
I have arranged to meet with the director and I will take up this matter with him. It is important that I get directly involved and talk to the director.
Question No. 15, please.
