Olivia Mitchell
Question:14 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the position of the National Museum in Collins Barracks; and the progress regarding its expansion and future development. [10810/98]
Written Answers. - National Museum.
As the Deputy is aware, the major new facility for the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks has been open to the public since last September. The initial phase of this unique development has provided approximately 6,500 square metres in exhibition galleries, located in the west and south blocks of the beautifully restored Clarke Square buildings on the eastern side of the Collins Barracks site. These new areas have facilitated in the display of hundreds of artifacts from the National Museum collections, some of which were not previously exhibited due to lack of exhibition space.
The opening of Collins Barracks for the National Museum represents the initial stages of a major investment on this site of the order of £30 million. Of this amount, some £18 million in co-financed expenditure has been allocated in EU Structural Funds under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999. When completed, the Collins Barracks project will provide an exciting opportunity for the museum to expand, consolidate, and upgrade its facilities to enable it communicate the story of Ireland more effectively. These facilities will provide space for collections management, artifact storage, public exhibitions and programmes which are essential for the preservation and presentation of Irish heritage.
Preparations are at an advanced stage for the next phases of the development. A comprehensive functional brief has been prepared by an international firm of museum consultants which sets out the requirements for the museum on this site and how they can be met within the existing resources in the short, medium and long-terms. An exhibition strategy for the site is also at an advanced stage of preparation which, with the functional brief, will set the parameters for the future uses and possibilities for this facility.
In terms of the physical development of the remaining two-thirds of the site, it has been decided that a new building will be located on the vacant ground in the central area of the site. This will house the major visitor reception facilities, as well as new introductory exhibition theme galleries. An equally important function of this building will be to orientate the visitor and to unite the site through making the key physical connections to the other sectors of the site. It is envisaged that the central building would be opened by the end of year 2001 or early 2002.
More immediately, plans are being prepared for works to be undertaken on the refurbishment and consolidation of existing buildings for collection management purposes plus some administration uses. These works are intended to be finalised by the end of 1999.