Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Written Answers. - Imposition of Entrance Charges.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

124 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his views on the suggestion that the National Museum and the National Gallery should impose an entrance charge on visitors; if he has relevant information from abroad on the success or otherwise of charges at similar national cultural institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5425/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

As Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht my responsibilities differ in relation to the National Museum and the National Gallery. The National Museum operates as an integral part of my Department whereas the National Gallery, although coming within my overall remit, operates under an autonomous board established under statute. Any proposals for entrance charges in respect of the National Gallery would, therefore, be a matter for the board, in the first instance.

In so far as the Museum is concerned I have no plans to impose an entrance charge on visitors; while I am aware of various studies and commentaries setting out advantages and disadvantages of different structures of entrance charges where they have been imposed — both in this country and abroad — I am not persuaded that the public interest would be served by the introduction of any such structures within the Museum at this time. It has to be borne in mind that those institutions, while obviously tourist attractions, are not primarily tourist facilities. They are the repositories of Ireland's moveable heritage and should not be seen as in direct competition with such facilities.

However in the forthcoming Cultural Institutions Bill which will establish the Museum on an autonomous basis there will be an enabling provision permitting the board of the National Museum, with the consent of the Minister, to introduce such charges. This is so as not to exclude an option, should a conclusion be reached, at some stage in the future, that the public interest warrants a change in the position.