asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, there are for temporary remedial work at the National Gallery, Dublin 2, pending the commencement of phase I of the plan to refurbish the gallery; when it is expected that phase I will commence; the number of subsequent phases of the work there is expected to be; the financial allocation which has been made for each phase; if the proposed refurbishment proposals include plans for an independent heating system for the gallery; if, in view of the unique importance of the paintings there, the National Gallery will be authorised to retain an independent monitoring architect during the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Refurbishment of National Gallery.
29.
There are no plans to undertake temporary remedial works at the National Gallery pending the commencement of the proposed first phase of the plan to refurbish the Gallery. As I indicated in reply to Question No. 35 from the Deputy on 24 March, planning for the proposed Phase I is at an advanced stage. The provision of the necessary finance to enable this phase of the scheme to proceed is still under consideration. It will take approximately 9 months from receipt of financial approval to complete the planning, invite tenders and appoint a contractor to undertake the work.
A sum of £350,000 was allocated from the national lottery funds for 1988 for work in the National Gallery. Little if any expenditure will arise on the major scheme in the current year and the Office of Public Works is therefore formulating proposals in consultation with the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Gallery for works to be financed from the national lottery provision which will deal with a number of the most pressing of the structural and security problems in the gallery in advance of the main scheme. It is not the intention that these works will be of a temporary nature. In general the works will be permanent although in a small number of instances more extensive remedial work may be necessary during the later phases of the overall scheme.
It has not been finally decided at this stage how many subsequent phases of the work there will be. This will depend to some extent on the availability of funds from 1991 onwards as well as on the availability of areas in the gallery. It is too early yet to make financial provision for the proposed subsequent phases.
A final decision has not been made whether to provide an independent heating system as part of the proposed refurbishment. The central heating station, which incidentally also serves this House, is about to be converted to use natural gas. This will allow for far greater flexibility in the provision of heat and should eliminate the most serious of the heating problems encountered in the National Gallery in the past.
I have no plans to authorise the National Gallery to retain an independent monitoring architect during the work. The scheme has been planned by the Office of Public Works in very close consultation with the National Gallery authorities who have indicated they are in agreement with it. The scheme also has the approval of the Department of the Taoiseach. In those circumstances I consider that the engagement of a consultant to monitor the progress of the work is unnecessary and would be wasteful of public funds.