asked the Minister for Education if there is an up-to-date catalogue of all the paintings, water colours, etc., in the National Gallery of Ireland; whether the storage space of the National Gallery is sufficient and suitable for the purposes of making an inventory of its contents; when the last complete inventory was compiled; and if he will give the same particulars regarding the National Museum and the National Library.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Gallery, National Museum and National Library.
22.
If the Deputy has in mind printed catalogues, the position is that there are not up-to-date catalogues for all the paintings, water colours, etc. in the National Gallery. A printed catalogue of the Italian paintings was published in 1956 and a summary catalogue of the remainder is nearing completion. All pictures are listed according as they are acquired and the compilation of such lists is, therefore, continuous.
As regards the National Museum every object acquired by the Museum is entered immediately it is received in a register and these registers constitute a catalogue of the items in the museum. It is not, I understand, museum practice anywhere to undertake the publication of formal catalogues of the entire contents of museum collections.
In the case of the National Library printed books, periodicals, newspapers, etc. are normally catalogued as they are received. Manuscripts, however, have come to the Library at such a rate that there must necessarily be delay in the detailed cataloguing of them.
As to whether the existing storage space in the three institutions is sufficient and suitable for the purpose of making inventories, the position is that apart altogether from any question of making inventories the accessions to the institutions have been such as to make the provision of additional storage space necessary. I would like to assure the Deputy that the question of providing additional accommodation for the National Gallery, the National Museum and the National Library is at present under very active consideration and that I hope that the necessary steps in this direction will be taken before long.
I am very grateful to the Minister for the competent and decent way he has answered my question.