My Department's investment programme under the National Development Plan is set out in its sectoral plan "Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage – 2018 to 2027" and also includes elements of the "Linking People and Places" plan of the former Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Department's investment programme includes capital projects, capital programmes and capital grant schemes.
Major capital projects for which the Department is the approving authority are appraised, planned, implemented and evaluated in line with the revised Public Spending Code which includes the preparation of a Strategic Assessment Report, a Preliminary Business Case and Final Business Case and which require my sanction at key decision gates. Additionally, projects also have to adhere to the requirements of the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF).
The majority of my Department’s major capital projects, as distinct from capital programmes and grant schemes, fall within an ambitious €460 million programme of redevelopment and renovation of our National Cultural Institutions (NCIs). Considerable work has been undertaken to date in partnership with the NCIs themselves and with the OPW in advancing the NCI projects through the appraisal and design/planning stages as required under the Public Spending Code and CWMF. Other flagship projects include the development of a flagship Irish language and cultural centre in Dublin city centre and the redevelopment of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, in partnership with the Department of Education.
The five most recent significant capital projects which have received my, or my predecessor’s sanction under the Public Spending Code are set out below. It should be noted that the process for appraising these projects includes extensive investigative and remedial works which will help shape and determine the final outcome. All investigative and construction works are of course contingent on COVID-19 public health restrictions and guidelines currently in place.
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Project
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Project Stage
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Most recent approval date
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Next Stage
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National Archives
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Final Business Case
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March 2021
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Construction
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National Gallery of Ireland – Phase 4(a)
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Design/Planning
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November 2020
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Final Business Case
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Crawford Art Gallery
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Design/Planning
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September 2020
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Final Business Case
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Chester Beatty Library
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Preliminary Business Case
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July 2020
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Design/Planning
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National Concert Hall
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Preliminary Business Case
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March 2020
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Design/Planning
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Work is also underway in respect of developing the design for the redevelopment of the West Wing of the National Library of Ireland, following the recent completion of the first phase of the project which saw the relocation of the collection to a new, state of the art book repository on the Kildare Street campus, and on the Preliminary Business Cases for the redevelopment of the Natural History Museum and the Abbey Theatre.
Given the historic nature of the NCI buildings, their importance as major heritage and cultural assets, their status - in most cases - as protected structures, the deputy will appreciate that any interventions have to adhere to the highest national and international standards. This is reinforced by the various new processes introduced as part of the revised Public Spending Code which involves extensive consideration of all aspects of development. This has meant more time than originally anticipated to deliver these projects but it is intended that they will continue to advance quickly through the remaining Public Spending Code stages over the next year.
