Ms Katherine Licken:

We are very seized of the need for artist spaces and we support facilities, such as Annaghmakerrig in Monaghan, which provide critical support for artists so that they have the time and space in which to work.

We have a cultural institution in Cork, the Crawford Gallery, of which we are very proud. The work they are doing is not just nice to have; we need to have it. The National Library is in the process of moving its books out of the west wing, which will secure them from fire and damage, from a health and safety perspective. Safeguarding the collections is important. The Senator is right that we have not invested in this in decades because of the recession and other factors. They need that investment. We saw from the National Gallery of Ireland the inspiration that it provides when new spaces are opened, and the feeling of security for the collections. Mr. Falvey might like to pick up on the artists' spaces.