Vol. 525 No. 5
139 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the main pro visions of the proposed heritage fund Bill; if the heads of the Bill have yet been approved by Government; when publication is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25584/00]
The heritage fund Bill when enacted will provide for the establishment of a rolling fund which will facilitate the acquisition by collecting national cultural institutions for the national collections of major cultural artefacts of Irish interest that are both rare and of national importance and that otherwise could not be acquired. The collecting institutions involved are the National Museum of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Archives.
Drafting of the Bill is at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position to introduce it in the next session.
