andMr. Horgan asked the Minister for Education if he will state, in relation to each of the reserve collections in the National Museum, (a) the total number of objects; (b) the number of objects which have been scientifically preserved; and (c) the number of the remainder which require scientific treatment.
Written Answers. - National Museum Reserve Collections.
512.
There are over 800,000 objects in the reserve collections of the Natural History Division of the National Museum, 1,712,000 in the Irish Antiquities Division, including material from excavations, 235,000 in the Art and Industry Division and 13,000 in the Irish Folk Life Division.
Every object coming into the Museum is, where necessary, given conservation treatment. Such treatment of specimens in the museum's collections is an ongoing process and it would not be feasible to give the precise number of objects requiring such treatment at any given time.