Vol. 444 No. 5
8 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the latest position regarding the proposed transfer of the Chester Beatty Library to Dublin Castle; the proposed date for any such move; when the library will be open to the public at its new location; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I recently announced my agreement in principle to the proposal to relocate the Chester Beatty Library to the Clock Tower Building, Dublin Castle, under the National Development Plan 1994-1999 and work on the scheme has already commenced by the Office of Public Works.
This undertaking will entail the restoration and extension of the existing Clock Tower Building in Dublin Castle for the eventual use of the Chester Beatty Library. Prior to the library being relocated to the Clock Tower, the refurbished building will be used during the Irish Presidency of the European Union, which will occur during the second half of 1996. Accordingly, the building will not become available for use by the library until 1997. It will be a matter for the trustees and staff of the library to make the necessary arrangements for the transfer and to determine the date of opening to the public.
The Deputy will appreciate that, in the meantime, relocation of the Library from its current premises in Shrewsbury Road, Ballsbridge, will involve the resolution of legal matters pertaining to the Chester Beatty Board of Trustees itself and the negotiation of a new relationship between the board of trustees and the State to reflect this major investment by the State in the library.
I should say that the transfer of the library to the Clock Tower will significantly increase its exposure to the public and in the process maximise the cultural, educational and tourism potential of this priceless collection of manuscripts, paintings and other works of art.
Will the Minister put a figure on the cost of the restoration and extension of the Clock Tower? Furthermore will he indicate whether the Chester Beatty Trust will incur any of the cost of restoration? Is there any indication of what manner the costs of maintaining what will clearly be a more expensive location — in terms of maintaining the building, securing it and so on — will be met? Will the Minister state whether the substantial Exchequer investment, will emanate from direct Exchequer funding, national lottery funds or another source?
I am anxious to give Deputy De Rossa as much information as possible. Indeed Members have been very positive about the value of the Chester Beatty collection, which is of international significance, and all have agreed that the move would allow greater access to a great national treasure. The capital cost involved in the move is approximately £5.5 million, £3 million of which will come from Structural Funds and £2.5 milion from the Exchequer, which is the answer to that part of the question.
In relation to funding, Deputy De Rossa will appreciate that in my reply I stated there are matters to be resolved. For example, the Bord of Trustees always indicated in their meetings with me that they need to take legal steps to deal with the issue of the Board of Trustees and the disposal of the building. I speak from having read the file some time ago — the figure of £5.5 million does not include display costs which would arise. I am endeavouring to answer the Deputy's question by imparting as much information as possible.
Under the terms of the will of the late Alfred Chester Beatty there is a number of trustees. They include a nominee of the Taoiseach and a nominee of the President. The Director of the national lottery is an ex-officio member and the remaining trustees were named in the will. I do not wish to go into the area of what measures trustees need to take as they go to court to address the issue of the trust and the question of the disposal of the building. What I meant by public investment is the £3 million from Structural Funds and the £2.5 million from the Exchequer which is being invested in the project, a significant public investment. Those matters must be dealt with in the manner I outlined.
I do not intend to undervalue the importance of the Chester Beatty Library and its cultural importance to this city and the country — it is important that it should have a better location — but I am concerned to ensure that where public money is invested there is a concomitant responsibility on the trust to acknowledge that and ensure that the public interest would not be ignored at a future date. However, I am sure that in any legal arrangement between the trust and the State the public interest will be protected.
The Deputy's point is reasonable and is one I mentioned in my reply. Given the public investment I described, it is reasonable that whatever mechanism emerges is one that is transparent, accountable and takes cognisance of the significant level of public investment.
