Vol. 543 No. 4
10 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will arrange with the National Museum to have artefacts which have a local interest transferred to museums around the country on a temporary basis to stimulate an active response to our heritage. [27220/01]
The National Museum of Ireland has a substantial number of artefacts of local interest on loan in a number of locations throughout the country. For example, artefacts are on loan for exhibition purposes at the county and city museums in Limerick, Cork, Tralee, Clonmel, Monaghan, Cavan, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Waterford and Ennis.
A number of other local authorities are in the process of establishing county museums and I am actively pursuing a policy of encouraging the development of a county museum service in every county. This policy is aimed at facilitating the loan of greater numbers of artefacts from the national collections to an ever-increasing number of venues around the country.
I have also designated nine regional museums for the purposes of acquiring and displaying archaeological objects on behalf of the State, which are primarily of local interest. This designation process has the effect of dividing certain legal powers under the National Monuments Acts and the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, between the National Museum of Ireland and local authority museums and their curators. The museums designated are: Cavan County Museum; Cork Public Museum; Kerry County Museum; Donegal County Museum; Limerick Museum; Louth County Museum; Monaghan County Museum; Tipperary South Riding County Museum; and Waterford Treasures.
I expect to make an announcement shortly regarding the designation of Clare Museum.
I thank the Minister for her positive response to Deputy Deasy's question. Many of the prime exhibits in the National Museum originated in other parts of the country – the Tara brooch, the Cong cross, and the Ardagh and Derrynaflan chalices etc. – and it is only right that people from these areas should have an occasional opportunity to see these exhibits in their own areas. Now that we have excellent museums in other parts of the country I hope the Minister will continue that practice.
