Ruairí Quinn
Question:49 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline his plans for the development of the National Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - National Museum Development.
The National Museum, Kildare Street, has been extensively refurbished in recent years. It has been electrically rewired, its security systems have been upgraded and the roof over the Central Court has been repaired. An extensive outbreak of dry rot has been controlled. Several areas have been refurbished and reopened to the public. These include the Rotunda where a shop and visitor reception facility have been provided, the Central Court where there have been a number of major exhibitions, the ground floor aisle and various exhibition areas including the balcony, the Ceramics Room, Japanese Room, Music and Tapestries Rooms and most recently the 1916 Room. The possibility of providing a small coffee shop is under active consideration at present.
Further work to the fabric of the building remains to be done including repair of the remainder of the roof, the repair of the stonework in the facade and the renewal of the heating system. Further development of the building which would include the provision of lifts, improved education facilities, temporary exhibition galleries etc. will not be possible until after space is vacated by the proposed transfer of the decorative arts material to exhibition space in Stack A in the Custom House Docks.
These further developments will be undertaken as soon as the necessary financial resources can be made available. I am not in a position at this stage to give a timetable for these works.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:50 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline his plans for the development of the National Gallery, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, with particular reference to the extension of the gallery on to Clare Street, Dublin 2; the estimated cost of this work; when the extension will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Many of the rooms in the 1864 and 1903 wings of the National Gallery have been refurbished by the Office of Public Works over the past couple of years. It is hoped to commence work on a major refurbishment scheme in the 1968 wing later this year.
A site at 27-29 Clare Street has been acquired for an extension to the gallery. The cost of this proposed extension will have to be met from the gallery's own resources, and I understand that fund raising for this purpose is in progress. I am not in a position at this stage to say when the construction of the extension will be completed or how much it will cost.