Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I did not say it was a substitute. I was rebutting the point that there is nothing happening and nothing available to the public. The opposite is the case. Many people who are committed to the Natural History Museum have put much work into making it happen.

The Deputy is right in saying that the major project has not started. I do not want to wait around until it happens, so I moved the project on so that we could get the Natural History Museum reopened, albeit as a more scaled-down effort.

The Deputy mentioned a reduction in the amount of space. I do not have a note on that so I am not in a position to say definitively what the space requirements will be. However, if the Deputy goes out the back of this building she will see people working on the project, and I am happy to say the work will be completed in time for the museum to reopen in September in its original home.

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