Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:14 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans, if any, she has for the Chester Beatty Library; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20613/97]
Written Answers. - Chester Beatty Library.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Chester Beatty Library is an independent charitable trust and while substantially funded by the Exchequer, as Minister, it is not within my remit to have any operational input or direct plans for this institution.
However, as has been announced previously, the library is being relocated from its present premises in Shrewsbury Road to new facilities at the Clock Tower in Dublin Castle. The refurbishment programme has been carried out with the high quality of imagination and professionalism which we have come to expect from the Office of Public Works in working on all our public buildings. The capital cost of this work was £5.5 million of which £2.25 million was provided in EU grant aid funds available to my Department through the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999 with the remainder sourced from the Vote of the Office of Public Works.
The refurbishment has been overseen by a working party representing my Department, the Office of Public Works and the Chester Beatty Library. The Office of Public Works is providing architectural services and a design firm has been appointed to prepare the exhibitions which are estimated to cost some £3.4 million. Detailed planning and consultation is taking place so as to fully utilise these new facilities in realising the immense educational and cultural value of the collections in the Chester Beatty Library which have been underexposed in their present site. It is envisaged that the new facility will be open to the public in the first half of 1999.
The High Court has recently given permission for changes to be made to the terms of the Chester Beatty Library Trust. These changes will facilitate the sale of the Shewsbury Road premises with the proceeds being applied to offset some of the cost of completing the redevelopment at the library's new location.