Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2012
40. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the recent abolition of the boards of the National Library and the National Museum will enhance Ireland’s cultural tourism market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53061/12]
View answer48. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he acknowledges the importance of the key national cultural institutions as custodians of Irish culture and history; the way the current restructuring programme he has embarked upon will enhance and maintain this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53062/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 48 together.
The Deputy will be aware that, as part of a range of reforms recently agreed by Government under the Public Service Reform Plan, it was decided that the existing National Archives of Ireland (NAI) governance model will be applied to the National Library of Ireland (NLI) and the National Museum of Ireland (NMI). A single statutory NLI and NMI Advisory Council will operate pro bono in place of the existing boards. Board membership will be reduced overall by some 60%. It is anticipated that this model will achieve significant savings and increase efficiencies across the institutions. The NLI and NMI will operate with statutorily independent Directors. A robust shared services model will be deployed - through my Department in relation to corporate support services and by formal inter-institutional agreement in relation to operational services.
It is my intention to make clear statutory provision for the independent status of the Director of the NLI and the Director of the NMI. Issues such as the status of staff (whether as civil or public servants) and related administrative matters will be pursued at the appropriate time with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the institutions and relevant staff associations/unions.
These reforms will, I believe, lead to significant efficiencies for both institutions and will improve their ability to programme events, exhibitions and other activities of interest to cultural tourists.
The Government has also agreed a range of reforms in relation to our national galleries under the Public Service Reform Plan. In relation to the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and Crawford Art Gallery, the reform actions include:
- the boards of the three institutions to be scaled back to a maximum of 9 members each, including the Chair, with all to operate on a pro bono basis; and
- the three institutions to implement an agreed range of corporate support and operational shared services.
I believe that these reforms will help the institutions to run more efficiently, provide a better service to the public in the new and challenging environment that they must operate in and better equip them to raise funds independently of Government.
Ireland has an impressive cultural offering and I wish to equip our organisations with the skills and structures they need in the challenging times ahead. I am pleased too to acknowledge the crucial importance of all of our national cultural institutions as custodians of Irish culture and history.
