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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 3

Written Answers - National Gallery.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

50 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has satisfied herself that the sum allocated to the National Gallery for acquisitions is appropriate as an acquisitions fund for a major cultural institution. [24852/98]

The grant-in-aid fund in respect of acquisitions and conservation at the National Gallery is used to fund three main areas of the gallerys activities: the acquisition of pictures, conservation of works of art and the purchase of books and journals.

I understand that the allocation from that fund by the National Gallery in respect of acquisitions in the current year was arrived at having regard to the overall resources available to the gallery as well as to the prioritising by the gallery of requirements within those resources. The National Gallery also has other independent sources of income for use in making acquisitions and which includes income from the Shaw bequest.

It should also be noted that in accordance with section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, tax relief is available in respect of the donation of important national heritage items to the national collections on the basis of certain criteria. The National Gallery is one of the approved bodies in respect of this facility.

I am very pleased that the National Gallery was recently in a position to use this facility to acquire the sculpture titled Amorino by Antonio Canova, an example of the benefits which can accrue to our cultural collections through the use of this provision of the legislation. The gallery also received a donation of paintings under the same scheme in 1997.

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