Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 5

Written Answers. - Museum Projects.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

255 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the stage of negotiation between the Office of Public Works and Mayo County Council in relation to planning for the development of Turlough House, Castlebar, County Mayo to house the national folklife collection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10644/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

As the Deputy will be aware the Government has approved the establishment of a National Museum of Ireland folklife facility at Turlough Park House, Castlebar, County Mayo in co-operation with Mayo County Council. The Government agreed that a sum of £5 million would be earmarked for this purpose from funds available for cultural tourism purposes under the EU Structural Funds assisted Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-9. The total capital cost of the project facility is estimated at £8.53 million.

A steering group has been established, chaired by my Department, and comprising representatives of the Office of Public Works, the National Museum, Mayo County Council, and the Department of Finance to supervise the progress of the project. The Office of Public Works is acting as agent for my Department and the museum and is responsible for the management of the project, including the necessary legal, property and construction aspects of the development. In this regard, I understand that negotiations are proceeding satisfactorily with the council regarding the terms of a lease to be executed relating to part of the Turlough Park House Demesne to enable the development of the folklife museum to be progressed.

Functional and exhibition documents are at an advanced stage of preparation, which will inform the overall strategy to be adopted for this facility. As part of this process, a design is currently being prepared with a view to lodging planning permission documents for the proposed works, during the summer-autumn 1998 period.