John Connor
Question:1 Mr. Connor asked the Taoiseach if he will outline his plans and policies for the National Museum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Museum.
I intend to support the development of our National Museum to the fullest extent that resources will allow. Their work of preserving and presenting the national collections is of crucial importance to our cultural life. Since 1987 the grant-in-aid has been almost doubled and improvement works costing nearly £2.2 million have been carried out. The capital programme at the museum will continue with proposed projects costing a further £2 million.
In addition, a feasibility study has recently been completed for a building at the Custom House Docks to house the decorative arts collection. I will also encourage the museum's director and staff to assist local museums by way of advice and the loan of some of its artifacts on a temporary or permanent basis where suitable locations are provided.
I thank the Minister for his reply and congratulate him on his appointment. There are about six million items in the National Museum collection. Only a very small percentage are on display, obviously due to reasons of space. Obviously the well known items are on display. What percentage or number of items are not on display and are kept in storage?
The Deputy has asked a very specific question and I will be glad to get that information for him if he puts down a separate question or contacts me directly. The director's plan to ensure that artefacts are displayed regionally and locally is to be encouraged. This type of development is one I would support. It is important to present the national collection locally. The proposed capital investment of a further £2 million will ensure that type of development takes place.
I welcome the National Museum's plan to open a Famine museum at Strokestown in County Roscommon in my constituency. What further plans exist for decentralising the museum? There are at least six major archaeological sites which are very poorly developed and would have no interpretation facilities for a visitor. Does the Minister accept that it would be good policy to have branches of the National Museum and interpretative centres sponsored by the National Museum at these sites?
The Deputy refers to a particular project in Stokestown House. I am aware that the director and his deputy have been in touch with the people behind this project. It is a project which would warrant my support. Other plans for relocation relate to the Custom House Docks site. Part of the museum's collection is to be in a purpose-built museum to be created there. This purpose-built accommodation will place the museum in the forefront of modern museum development. Funds have been allocated for this project and a feasibility study has recently been submitted to this Department. The type of development here could relate to folk life or other projects, such as a coach museum or a museum of the decorative arts. I have had a look at some of the plans for that site. The project has exciting potential.
Would the Minister agree that what he has outlined would appear to be nothing more than a programme for display purposes and does not seem to include any proposals with regard to the enhancement or development of the museum as an asset generally and making sure that it progresses in line with modern developments in our society? How soon does he expect the project at the Custom House Docks to begin? Did I understand him to say that a feasibility study has been completed and is with his Department? Will he clarify the position? Many of us will remember that when the Custom House Docks proposal was being promoted all these matters appeared to be settled and clearly in place and it seemed that there would be a whole range of cultural and other developments. None of this has happened.
The Deputy is right in that a feasibility study has recently been submitted to my Department. This will very much depend on overall developments at the site. I am not in a position to give a timescale but I will pursue this project on a personal basis and I hope to get in touch with the Deputy as soon as I have specific details on the matter. I did talk about regionalisation, about making our national collection accessible to people locally, which is one aspect, but there are other very basic major capital works planned — the heating system at the National Museum, creating improved fire escapes; and at the National History Museum, roof repairs. The Deputy will see that it entails a necessary capital works programme to ensure the preservation of our precious national collection.
Could the Minister of State say whether it is intended to locate the Custom House Docks development in one of the existing warehouses, the Crimean Banquet Hall, or if a new custom built building will be erected? Is it intended to move any division other than the decorative arts to that location? Finally, has he any intention of appointing a board or governors on the lines of the National Gallery Board of Governors rather than the existing Board of Visitors, or is he happy with the present arrangement?
The reply to the Deputy's first question is that it will be a purpose-built museum erected specifically for the housing of this collection.
Decorative arts only?
Yes. There are a number of proposals, the one mentioned by former Ministers was the decorative arts-type collection. I am aware of other proposals, such as the Museum of Coaches to which I referred earlier. I would be glad to hear from Deputies, such as Deputy Nealon, if they have any suggestions to advance in that area. With regard to the final part of the Deputy's question, that is something I will be glad to discuss with the director whom I hope to meet at the earliest possible date.
The most recent report of the Board of Visitors of the National Museum I have seen drew our attention to the fact that the national collection was being damaged because of improper conservation and storage conditions in the National Museum, making the point also that many areas were dangerously crammed, leaving many objects susceptible to damage through dampness and dust. As I understand it, there are four divisions——
I am sorry to interrupt the Deputy but we must proceed by way of supplementary question. The Deputy is making a statement.
It is a question relating to the four divisions in the National Museum. Perhaps there should be another division. I know there are four divisions covering folk life, Irish antiquities, art, industry and so on. Would the Minister not agree that it would be proper that the national monuments section, at present the responsibility of the Office of Public Works, be a division of the National Museum?
The Deputy has referred to the need for major improvements. I referred earlier to major plans for improvement works. For example, I talked about the necessary control of the heating system, the sums involved there ranging from £750,000 to £1 million and the final phase of the roof repairs costing approximately £800,000. Deputies will see there will be major works undertaken in the coming year. From my early contacts with the people in my Department I am satisfied that a substantial capital programme has been prepared at the National Museum which will continue so that the investment, which really began to improve from 1987 onwards, will be continued. The Deputy's suggestion is something I would have to consider.