Vol. 525 No. 5
100 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals she has received from the management of the National Museum regarding extended opening hours of the museum and especially the question of opening on bank holiday Mondays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25575/00]
As I indicated in reply to previous parliamentary questions, my Department is at present considering proposals from the museum regarding the possibility of extending the opening hours of the National Museum. Proposals involve additional opening hours on Sundays, late opening on one night per week together with opening on each bank holiday Monday.
The extension of existing opening hours has major financial, organisational and staffing implications for the museum. These implications are being fully considered in the context of the resources that will be made available for the National Museum through the Vote of my Department.
To the best of my recollection the Labour Party has been pursuing this matter with the Minister for three years but no progress has been made. Does the Minister agree that the fact the National Museum is not open on bank holiday Mondays, for example, denies people, particularly young people from all over the country, the opportunity to view the artefacts on display? Does she further agree that, in these days of increased leisure time, it is inexcusable that she has been dithering on this issue and that no progress has been made in terms of wider access to that part of our national heritage housed in the National Museum?
It is a pity the Deputy did not remind the previous incumbent of this office of the need for funding for national institutions. These institutions are still at a low base and need to be improved. However, there has been a substantial increase in funding for each of the institutions since this Government took office whereas little or no attention was paid to them previously. This underlines the fact that the Government views these institutions as playing a key role in our heritage and culture.
Members will be interested to hear of the kind of moneys we are talking about. We would like to be in a position to open the museum for longer hours and on bank holiday Mondays and to improve access in any way possible. The current Sunday opening hours are from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is estimated that increasing this opening time from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. would cost £63,000 per annum. Late opening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. one night per week would cost an estimated £70,000 per annum. Opening on bank holiday Mondays would cost £6,000 per day.
I remind the Minister that there is only one minute for questions and replies.
I am trying to be helpful, a Cheann Comhairle.
The Minister is filibustering.
Monday openings, including bank holidays, would cost £90,000 to £300,000 per annum.
The Minister is aware of the cost of the proposed extended opening hours. I would like to see such opening hours as I have not been able to visit the National Museum on bank holiday Mondays. This issue is of particular relevance in winter for people who live outside Dublin but who cannot bring their children to the National Museum because it is closed.
Does the Minister intend to include this provision in the forthcoming Estimates?
I am sure the Deputy does not expect me to discuss the Estimates here.
Goodwill.
I have been very committed to the national institutions. In that respect, all the Deputy need do is look at our record which is a huge improvement on what we had to deal with when we came into office in 1997, and the figures will prove that. I do not find it very amusing, and I am sure the people in the national institutions did not either, but I can assure the Deputies that all these matters will be fully considered in the context of the resources available.
Does the Minister agree the amounts she read out are insignificant when balanced against the advantage to schoolchildren, students, and so on of being able to avail of the facilities of the National Museum? Is it not criminal? Now that she has had it costed, it is not a great deal of money but she will still not indicate that she will extend the opening hours of the National Museum. Will she at least give us an undertaking that she will provide the money for opening on bank holiday Mondays?
As I said, I will consider all these proposals in the context of the resources available to me in this Department.
