asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the Government's current plans for bringing the National Museum, Dublin 2 up to an acceptable standard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Museum.
2.
A considerable amount of progress has been made in recent years in improving the level of resources and accommodation available to the National Museum at a cost in the region of £2 million. I am sure the Deputy has had an opportunity to admire the work done on the Treasury. The Natural History Museum has now been substantially renovated and will be re-opened next month.
Major works currently in progress involve: (1) the improvement of the Rotunda entrance area by the creation of an expanded museum shop and visitor reception/information area; (2) the restoration of the Central Court (or Great Hall) of the Museum and the planning for the display there in May, 1990 of a major exhibition on the theme of early Christian metalwork; and (3) the planning for the provision of improved conservation laboratories.
All these works are part of a progressive programme of improving conditions in the National Museum which is housed in a beautiful building but which has required extensive renovation and is too small to display all the collections.
Plans are, therefore, under consideration for the creation of a new museum of decorative and folk art in the Custom House Dock site. This museum will contain nearly 100,000 square feet as compared with 66,000 square feet in the Kildare Street building. Arrangements have also been introduced to increase the commercial earnings of the museum in common with museums generally around the world. The proposed shop is nearing completion and a wide range of replicas and artefacts modelled on museum objects will be on sale.
The new Director of the National Museum has recently submitted to my Department proposals for the further improvement of the museum's services. These will have to take account of present limitations on public funds and staffing but it is hoped that a programme can be devised to continue the work already on hands to enable the museum to fulfil fully its role as one of our major national cultural institutions.
I am, indeed, aware of the work that has been carried out in recent years and I welcome the comprehensive statement from the Taoiseach. May I ask the Taoiseach to clarify, from what he has said, the number of items that are available for display in the National Museum because it would appear that they are in excess of what they will ever be able to display at any one time? Are there any proposals to decentralise some of the functions because I am sure he is aware that there are many areas throughout the country were local museums are being built and where this could be considered?
Yes, that is always a matter that can be considered appropriate but the main outlet that we would foresee at the moment is the new museum down in the Custom House Docks site. If we can get that into operation we would have an extra 100,000 square feet there.
Have any costings been carried out for this proposal?
There are some different costings. So far we have just expended money on architectural and design fees but fortunately the agreement is that we get the building for free from the developers. The fitting out will be fairly expensive.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he has considered asking those responsible for the artefacts in the custody of the museum to prepare a timescale in terms of their total inventory of artefacts taking account of the state of preservation of such artefacts and also some timescale as to when they might be brought out of storage?
I am not aware at the moment what the exact state of play is in that regard but I will look into it.
What proportion of space is closed because of lack of staff despite the arrangements I made when in Government to enable funds raised by the museum from entry charges to be applied towards the staffing of the museum?
I am not aware what arrangements the Deputy made but the situation has been unsatisfactory for a considerable period.
Can the Taoiseach say what the position is in relation to the arrangements made to staff the museum?
The only thing I can say about that is that we have spent £2 million improving the level of resources and the accommodation. What the exact proportion is that still has to be renovated I cannot say at the moment.
My question relates to the staffing of the museum. Arrangements were made that the museum could impose charges and apply that to staff the museum properly and open the rooms that were closed. Did the Taoiseach change that arrangement? Is it operating and what is the position? The Taoiseach surely must know.
The staffing difficulties at the National Museum are being reviewed at present. That review will take into account such factors as the commercial development of the museum, the reopening of rooms now being restored as well as the creation of the proposed museum at the Custom House Docks site. We are improving the staffing situation steadily. Major improvements in accommodation have taken place in the past two years.
I must move on to other questions. I cannot remain for an unduly long time on this one.
There are different rooms and different standards of accommodation required and I can let the Deputy have an up-to-date position regarding each section of the museum if he wishes.
I want a straight answer——
We cannot debate this matter now.
The Taoiseach does not know the answers.