Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
312 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department has received a request for additional staffing from the National Museum of Ireland following implementation of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997; the levels of additional staffing requested; the levels of additional staffing to be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9153/04]
View answer313 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the provisions of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 which have yet to be implemented; the timescale for the full implementation of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9154/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together.
The main provisions of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 that have not yet been brought into effect relate to the establishment of statutory boards for the National Museum of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland for the purpose of granting these institutions autonomous status. Work has been proceeding with a view to bringing the relevant provisions into force. However, it is not the intention to grant autonomous status unless the resources available to the institutions are adequate to enable them thereafter to function satisfactorily.
To date, the finance and human resource functions for these institutions have been carried out by my Department and, at a minimum, resources necessary to allow those functions to be transferred must be provided to the institutions. The National Library of Ireland has sought an additional 12 posts in the context of autonomy. The National Museum of Ireland has sought a total of 93 additional posts in the context of its ten-year capital expansion programme and the granting of autonomous status. The granting of autonomous status and the bringing into effect of the remaining provisions of the Act are dependent on the resolution of the issues surrounding staff resources. In this regard, discussions are ongoing with the Department of Finance, in the context of current Government policy on staff numbers in the public sector.
