Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 March 2014
211. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in regard to the proposed cultural and heritage centre for College Green, the person who will be responsible for operating the centre; the person who will be responsible for the provision of historical content; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10577/14]
View answer212. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in regard to the proposed cultural and heritage centre for College Green, if there will be any new positions created and will they be publicly advertised; the person who will be responsible for these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10578/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.
As the Deputy is aware, following ongoing discussions between my Department and the Bank of Ireland, I recently announced a partnership between the Bank of Ireland and my Department to create a new Cultural and Heritage Centre at Parliament Buildings, College Green. The Bank of Ireland at College Green is one of the most iconic buildings in Dublin City. It was the first purpose-built Parliament in Europe, completed in 1739, and served as Ireland’s Parliament until the Act of Union in 1801.
The space for the Centre will be made available to the State for a ten year period, to run alongside the Decade of Centenaries. It is envisaged that exhibitions at the Centre will include a significant focus on key events in Irish history – up to the centenary of the Civil War – which led to the creation of modern Ireland, which also includes a strong cultural component.
Bank of Ireland will cover the costs of refurbishing the space and operating the Centre. My Department, in partnership with the Bank, will manage, operate and animate the Centre. I very much welcome Bank of Ireland's decision to make the space available and would like to thank it for strongly supporting this initiative.
I will shortly be establishing an expert committee drawn from the National Cultural Institutions and other city institutions to advise me on a suitable programme of exhibitions and events at the new Centre. This programme will have a significant focus on the social, economic and political events of the Decade of Centenaries.
As the matter is at an early stage of development, it would be premature to offer specifics about the programme of events or the operation of the Centre, in advance of the discussions of the expert committee. However, I believe the Centre will have a significant impact on enriching the cultural programme during the Decade of Centenaries over the next 10 years.
