Vol. 549 No. 4
47 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the role and duties of the board of visitors for the National Museum of Ireland; the reason for the delay in producing the report for 1998-99; when it is planned to publish reports for subsequent years; the assistance available to the board regarding the publication of its annual reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6799/02]
The board of visitors to the National Museum of Science and Art and the National Botanic Gardens was constituted in pursuance of an agreement entered into in 1881 between the Department of Art and Science in London, the Commissioners of Public Works and the Royal Dublin Society in connection with the establishment of the National Museum and the National Library. The agreement obtained statutory force under the provisions of section 16 of the Dublin Science and Art Museum Act, 1877.
The duties of the board are to make annual reports to the Department on the conditions, management and requirements of the museum and to advise on points affecting the administration. A copy of such reports is to be laid before Parliament by the Department. It is regrettable the 1998-99 report was only produced recently. The delay has occurred for a number of reasons, including difficulties in printing and editing the report. The 2000-01 report will be published this year.
