Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
113. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the proposed national children's science centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48262/22]
View answerThe proposal to build an interactive children’s science museum in Dublin originated in the early 2000s. The promoters of the scheme, with the support of then Taoiseach, requested the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the State, to undertake to provide this facility at a State-owned site.
However, the economic crash resulted in the overall proposal having to be abandoned as the economic model underpinning the development had collapsed.
In 2013, arbitration proceedings were instigated by the scheme’s promoters and negotiations took place with the OPW to seek a resolution on the matter. On 27th September 2013, on foot of legal advice, a settlement agreement was entered into whereby the OPW agreed to construct at State expense, an interactive science centre building at the north wing of the Earlsfort Terrace Complex- adjoining the National Concert Hall.
The promoters of the scheme, the Irish Children's Museum Ltd (ICML), is a private company registered as a charity and was established to promote and develop the Centre. The ICML board is currently comprised of 7 members. The arbitration agreement entered into 2013 resulted in ICML being awarded a licence to operate the centre free of charge. It is required to fund the cost of the exhibits in the museum estimated at €15-€20m.
I wish to inform the Deputy following the Arbitrators decision in June 2022 that the Office of Public Works must proceed to build the facility and provide it to Irish Children's Museum Limited (ICML) for purposes of operating the museum. The Office of Public Works are completing the next steps in this process.
The first step in the process was to lodge a new planning application to replace a previously lapsed planning application to Dublin City Council which happened on the 29th September 2022 to build a National Children’s Science Museum on Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
Subsequently the second step was to commence a prequalification competition for the main contractor and reserved specialists for the building of a new museum and is available on the etenders portal since Friday 30th September 2022.
The Office of Public Works must also meet the capital costs of constructing a new National Children’s Science Museum at the North Wing of the National Concert Hall as per the terms of our agreement with the NCSC Ltd. The most recent cost estimate is €47m but this will have risen since due to higher construction inflation than calculated at the time. The cost will be incurred primarily in 2024 and 2025.
My Office will liaise with other government departments especially the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sports and The Gaeltacht, Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other relevant public bodies.
