Jim Higgins
Question:1 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he has any proposals to promote the development of county or regional museums; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development of Local Museums.
I have indicated in the past that I support the initiatives being taken by the Director of the National Museum in conjunction with county or regional interests to facilitate the development of local museums.
The director is liaising in that regard with local authority officials and other representative groups in a number of counties including Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Wexford, Louth, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Monaghan and Donegal. Some of these centres already have viable local museums. In such cases, the National Museum is assisting them by way of advice and the loan of some of its artefacts on a temporary or permanent basis. In all instances, the extent to which it will be possible to loan National Museum material is contingent on the National Museum securing adequate assurances from the promoters of local museums as to such matters as security, temperature and humidity controls at local museum venues. These operational questions are essentially matters for the professional judgment of the director and his staff.
The National Heritage Council is at present finalising recommendations on the development of regional museums which would have a close working relationship with the National Museum.
I will ensure that any worthwhile proposals brought to my attention in this context will be examined in a positive and constructive manner.
In view of the fact that finance will be the ultimate determinant in relation to whether those local initiatives go ahead; in view of the fact that there are many fine artefacts and items of historical significance — such as axeheads, spearheads, arrowheads, and so on — literally locked away in basements and other hidden accommodation of the National Museum, which will never see the light of day; also in view of the fact that there is an operational programme for tourism in existence, would the Taoiseach agree that local authorities should be encouraged to engage in such joint ventures? For example, in the town with which the Taoiseach is very familiar, Castlebar, there is the old Church of Ireland building which Mayo County Council have recommended and there is a local small museum in Knock, would the Taoiseach agree that these should be given the necessary priming finance to enable them rehabilitate to their local environment those objects and artefacts at present locked away in the National Museum?
The question of finances of local authorities is a matter primarily for the local authorities themselves and the Minister for the Environment; that is not strictly my responsibility. But, as far as I and the National Museum are concerned, we are very anxious to encourage local authorities to proceed as comprehensively as possible with the sort of concept the Deputy has outlined. I understand that Mayo County Council have passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a local museum. That would certainly find favour with the National Museum.
Because the Taoiseach touched on finance and because his personal intervention has been responsible in getting back the Irish Bronze Age gold collection acquired by Sothebys——
Two.
——and the lunula — could he intervene at this stage to save taxpayers the £600,000 now being used for the rape of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham for conversion to an Irish Museum of Modern Art, for which original 17th century windows and doors are being pulled out, for which 40 fireplaces are being removed, for which studded partitions are being erected——
The Deputy is going outside the scope of this question.
——a function which is not inherently suitable for such a building? Is the Taoiseach aware that this is actually happening?
I am surprised at the Deputy, he is going outside the scope of this question altogether.
The Deputy disappoints me. We are dealing here, I hope, in a constructive, co-operative way with a very important matter, which is local, regional museums. I am assuring the Deputy and the House that this is very much part of our policy and will be encouraged and supported as much as possible by my Department and the National Museum.
In regard to the question of regional museums, would the Taoiseach agree that it would be preferable that we should widen the pool from which material could be drawn for these museums, from simply the National Museum, to include all the national collections, for example, material from the National Library and the National Gallery with a view to having exhibitions around particular themes rather than simply exhibitions confined to what may happen to be in one institution, namely, the National Museum?
That is a different point. The question of local or regional museums is one which is related strictly to museum-type artefacts; the relationship there should quite clearly be with the National Museum. In so far as any other institution in concerned — for instance, the National Gallery — a completely different set of circumstances and considerations would apply. As the Deputy knows, the Arts Council do encourage the exhibition of some of their collection in different parts of the country and in different buildings. The question of exhibitions of that kind, by either the National Gallery or the National Library would be a different matter altogether, something which can be looked at in a different context. At present the concentration in this question, as far as I am concerned, is on trying to have a network of local and regional museums around the country in which a great deal of material can be exhibited, either on temporary or permanent loan, which is particularly appropriate to the region or county.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that, for example, in the case of an exhibition of objects from the National Museum, let us say about 1798, it might also be relevant, in addition to displaying the objects, to display papers from the National Library or paintings from the National Gallery which relate to the same period? Would the Taoiseach not agree that we should draw on all the national collections, not just that of the National Museum, with a view to developing a coherent understanding of our past through a regional network of museums?
That would be appropriate in the case of exhibitions from time to time for particular purposes or on particular themes. But what Deputy J. Higgins and myself are dealing with in this question is the establishment of permanent museums in situ either in a county or region in which there would be permanent exhibition of artefacts, even folk artefacts. But the type of exhibition Deputy John Bruton has in mind is something that is arranged from time to time in particular venues in relation to particular themes or subject matters. That is a different matter altogether.
May I ask the Taoiseach——
Please, Deputy, I suggest we must not remain unduly long on any one question; otherwise it would be to the detriment of all the questions on the Order Paper.
Would the Taoiseach agree that it might be useful to have a debate in this House on the report which the Heritage Council are about to prepare so that we could give this issue greater time than is obviously available now?
That is possible. Certainly, I will make sure that the report is made available to Deputies.