Mr. Sean Rainbird:

I came to this project relatively recently. We have heard a little about financing, the reshaping of the finances, the various contributions that were made over the period and the struggle to retain financing for the project. Ultimately, there has been a very a successful negotiation between ourselves in the gallery, our parent Department and the OPW. The project has been examined, reviewed, reshaped and rescoped very frequently and very robustly road tested. The first phase, involving the roof replacement, has concluded. The next phases are really about introducing modern, 21st technologies into 19th century buildings. This is absolutely necessary for the successful running of museum collections and in order to reach international standards. I applaud the various contributions that have been made over many months and years across many branches of government, including our parent Department, and the governors and guardians' contribution from own resources, which is unprecedented, to make this happen in very challenging circumstances.

The further works and developments Mr. Ó Donnchú mentioned - this is, after all, a master development plan - are for the future. However, we already have the shape of how these current phases will flow into the future. The development plan seeks to integrate all of the technologies within four currently very disparate wings of the National Gallery and to improve visitor flows and the various experiences and facilities available to both visitors and staff working in the institution. The ongoing improvements are part of a broader set of refurbishments and redevelopments that will go beyond the current phase of redevelopment. It is a project of enormous complexity taking place at a time of great challenges.