Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

While my Department provides funding for the national cultural institutions, the board of each institution is responsible for all operational matters relating to the institution, including opening hours. I do not have a statutory function in day-to-day operational matters. All of the institutions will be required to carry out a formal review of their opening hours in accordance with the commitment given in the programme for Government. I am aware that opening hours are a matter which is routinely kept under review by all of the institutions and the fact that they are now operating in a much changed financial situation and with reduced Exchequer resources will potentially impinge on the outcome of all such reviews. My Department will continue to actively promote and encourage additional public access to the collections held by our national cultural institutions within current budgetary constraints, pending the outcome of the reviews.

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