Ms Gina O'Kelly:

We are currently carrying out an extensive survey in the museums sector. The preliminary report arising from this is due to be published within the next fortnight. The Network of European Museum Organisations has quantified these losses across Europe. We have not been able to do that in Ireland. That brings us back again to the issue of research on the sector and providing capacity for that research. Many museums that closed suffered great losses of income and revenue. I refer not only to entry fees to museums, but to the tertiary economy of coffee shops and retail environments. That has had very significant impacts. Many museums also rely on hiring out their commercial spaces for events and there has obviously been a great impact on that activity. One of the core issues we have faced has been that of staff capacity within many of these museums.

It should be noted that, when we are talking about the independent museum sector, we are not just talking about community and volunteer-led institutions. There are regional museums or museums that hold collections of national importance that are also classified as independent. As noted, 32% or 34% of museums are funded directly through Government agencies, but the rest fall outside of that funding. Their capacity to avail of some of the grants is also an issue because they do not have the staff or resources to apply. Retroactive payment is also an issue because the museums may sometimes not have the cash flow to pay out sums of money. We saw this in their attempts at digitisation last year. Some museums just did not have the capacity to avail of some of the supports that were extended to them.