Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Oct 2001

Vol. 168 No. 7

Adjournment Matters. - Maritime Museum Plans.

Mr. Cosgrave

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. While I am disappointed that the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands is not here, the Minister of State with her various hats and her knowledge of the area in question will hopefully be able to take back what I have to say to the Minister.

The Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire has been of tremendous interest over many years and is one of the main such museums in Ireland. There are many historic aspects to it, and it contains many fine heirlooms, particularly relating to Dún Laoghaire but also to the general maritime area. It has many maritime effects and has a long history. It is very important that the museum be maintained but it needs to be relocated. The collection should be sited elsewhere, probably in a purpose built building. I appeal to the Minister of State, as a local representative, her colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, and the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, to ensure that discussions take place with a view to providing an alternative venue. This should be a permanent location.

I accept that the Minister's Department has no statutory responsibility in this area, but I know that support has been given and that a grant was given for urgent repairs at the museum. I ask that the relevant Ministers meet with the main people in charge of the Maritime Museum with a view to carrying out necessary work. Obviously the alternative location should be in the Dún Laoghaire area. We have heard various proposals in relation to the Carlisle Pier. As the Minister of State is aware, there has been substantial development in the harbour area relating to the Town Hall, Marine Road, George's Street, and the development and improvement of the car ferry. The museum could be part and parcel of the ongoing improvements. I hope that discussions take place with the relevant authorities.

I know that the Minister of State will support me, wearing both her Minister's hat and her local Deputy's hat. I ask her to be as positive as possible in her response. It is important that discussions take place. I have an open mind on where the new museum should go but there should be a decision in principle that another location be found. There are ongoing problems at the current site and money could be pumped in there wastefully. A more suitable location could be found. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Ms Hanafin)

As Senator Cosgrave has said, the Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire is an independent establishment run by the Maritime Institute of Ireland. It is not an institution for which either the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, or her Department, has a statutory responsibility. Accordingly neither the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands nor her Department has responsibility for any plans for the museum in Dún Laoghaire or for its possible relocation.

That said, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands wishes the Senator's attention to be drawn to the fact that in recent years consideration has been given by her Department to facilitating a potential cultural facility at the Stack A building in the Dublin Docklands Development Area. As part of this consideration her Department was aware that the accommodation of the Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire, for the display and storage of its collection, was seriously inadequate. The possible availability of exhibition space in Stack A was brought to the attention of the museum. At one time the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands had been given to understand that the Maritime Museum was willing to favourably consider the accommodation at Stack A. Within the past year the Maritime Museum has informed her Department that it is no longer interested in taking up this suggestion. The Minister wishes it stressed that at no time did she attempt to force the Maritime Museum to relocate from Dún Laoghaire. The Minister's thinking in relation to the cultural use to which Stack A might be put has moved on in the light of the position adopted by the museum.

Senator Cosgrave has asked that the Minister would meet the group. At my own initiation, the Minister did meet with the Maritime Institute in relation to the museum. The Minister is aware that the Maritime Institute itself is of the belief that the Mariners Church in Dún Laoghaire, the current location of the museum, is not the best location for its collection and that the institute has proposals to relocate their collection to a new purpose built building. I share Senator Cosgrave's views in relation to the cultural value of the artefacts and memorabilia which are held in the museum. However, the Minister also understands that the Maritime Institute plans to continue to use the Mariners Church – itself a beautiful and valuable building – as an educational establishment.

The Minister wishes both the museum and the institute well in their endeavours. However, as I have previously stated, neither the Minister nor her Department has any statutory responsibility for these institutions and will not be in a position to make available from existing financial allocations the substantial capital funding that will undoubtedly be needed to build a new museum. I am also conscious of the great development on-going in Dún Laoghaire and perhaps there are new openings there in relation to some proposals. Perhaps a home could be found for the museum in that situation.

There are serious structural problems at the Mariners Church and the Minister has offered financial assistance – on an exceptional basis – towards the cost of urgent repairs to the Mariners Church subject to certain conditions. I accept what Senator Cosgrave has said in relation to the value of the museum. It appears to be outside the direct remit of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and her Department, but I hope that in negotiations on future development of the area a home will be found locally for the museum.