Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 September 2020
70. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current policy regarding the archiving or storing of monuments or other significant materials held by the OPW; the cost of such storage; if there are set parameters on the way in which and when such pieces may be on public display; and his views on potential damage to these items in view of the conditions in which they are held or stored. [25729/20]
View answerThe Office of Public Works holds certain material in storage which is related to National Monuments in State care and which has an intrinsic cultural and heritage value. In most cases, this material is in the form of fragments of carved stone fabric or other material from sites or specific moveable objects such as grave slabs or other ancient elements which it is judged are more securely held offsite.
OPW provides access to material in its care on request and responds to both enquiries of general interest and specific academic or research. Additionally, if items are required for third party exhibition, this can be arranged, subject to agreement with relevant agencies as required including the Department of Culture Heritage and Gaeltacht and the National Museum.
The costs of storage on an ongoing basis are negligible as material is held in passive storage within existing OPW facilities.
