asked the Minister for Finance if reasonable means are being taken to combat a fire if such broke out in the National Museum during its occupation by the Oireachtas.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PROTECTIVE MEASURES AGAINST FIRE IN NATIONAL MUSEUM.
The answer is in the affirmative. Even before the occupation of the Museum by the Oireachtas special precautions were taken for preventing or extinguishing fires in this building. It contains a quantity of apparatus such as extincteurs, hand-pumps and buckets for dealing with a fire in its earlier stages. There are also hoses and hydrants for fighting a fire which has gained some hold; and the most important precaution of all is that a fireman, accompanied, by a policeman, is stationed at the Museum during the night, and makes rounds at regular intervals. The Museum is, of course, also connected with the Fire Brigade Station by telephone.
Since the occupation by the Oireachtas and the conversion of the Museum Annexe into a restaurant and kitchen —which events add to the fire risk— additional precautions have been taken. A day fireman has been added to the night fireman, so that there is now always one on the premises. The fire-fighting apparatus is at the present time being added to, and certain additional structural alterations are being made, such as the erection of partitions and fire-resisting doors at suitable points.