The funding available to the National Gallery for acquisitions in 1993 is £100,000 and the 1968 wing of the gallery is being refurbished at a cost of £6 million to the Exchequer. This work is expected to be completed by 1995. Moreover, the Office of Public Works has recently handed over houses at 88-89 Merrion Square to the National Gallery and refurbishment is at present taking place. The acquisition of these two houses by the Gallery will facilitate the relocation of its administrative staff from its core building and the release of significant additional exhibition space within that building. The Deputy will appreciate that total Exchequer assistance being provided for the gallery is significant by any standards.
As was indicated in the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997 the current and capital funding needs of our national cultural institutions i.e. National Library, National Museum, National Gallery, National Archives, etc., will continue to receive a high priority so as to enable them in many cases to complete modernisation and refurbishment programmes.