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

I propose to take Questions No. 1 and Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, together.

As Deputies will be aware, the Government's public service reform plan which was published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, on 17 November contains a number of actions in respect of my Department's remit. These include the amalgamation of the National Library, the National Archives and the Irish Manuscripts Commission; the combining of the National Gallery, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, IMMA, and the Crawford Gallery, while retaining separate identities; a critical review of Culture Ireland; a review of board structures at the National Library and the National Museum, and an examination of opportunities for shared services.

I underline the value I place on the role of the national cultural institutions which are the custodians of our arts and cultural heritage. They also have a key role in scholarship and national discourse. For this reason, €47.25 million was provided for our cultural institutions and bodies in the 2012 Estimates. The critical role the arts and culture play in attracting tourists to Ireland is also well recognised. Cultural tourism is a key element of Ireland's tourism industry and the national cultural institutions play a significant role in this respect. The institutions funded by my Department attracted more than 3 million visitors in 2011.

In the overall context of the public service reform agenda, one of my key concerns is to ensure all options are examined in order that the most appropriate implementation approach can be adopted for each institution. The artistic and curatorial autonomy of the cultural institutions is a major consideration in this regard. However, all of our cultural institutions are facing difficult challenges in the times ahead, particularly in terms of resources and funding. Given the difficult economic circumstances, there has been a considerable reduction in Exchequer funding in recent years and this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. In this context, it is important that the institutions operate in the most efficient and effective way possible and are seen to provide value for money. Opportunities for sourcing alternative funding through philanthropy, commercial partnerships and other channels will also need to be sought proactively.

I see the reform process as offering all concerned a chance to take stock, assess how our institutions are equipped to deal with the challenges facing them and identify the best options to ensure their successful operation in the future. My Department has been examining the complex issues involved in the various reform proposals. This process has involved consultations with each of the institutions concerned. In addition, I have met the chairs of the various institutions involved in the process to afford them an opportunity to express their views on the actions included in the Government's public sector reform plan. My Department is also considering the various proposals made by the institutions. There can be little doubt, for example, that the sharing of services, in particular common back office services such as information technology, human resources, marketing and procurement, would lead to savings and efficiencies for the institutions. If managed properly by them, such a sharing of services could release resources to enhance front-line services to the public.

I cannot accept the proposition that examining reform possibilities amounts to an attack on the cultural infrastructure of the nation, as has been suggested by some. In fact, the idea that any organisation should be or consider itself to be above examination or review and possible reform is unhealthy and a recipe for a bad deal for the taxpayer who funds these institutions and the public whom they serve. Engagement between my Department and the cultural institutions on the spectrum of actions set out in the Government's public service reform plan is ongoing and I anticipate that I will be in a position to revert to the Government on these matters shortly.

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