Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was very pleased, at the conclusion of the recent Estimates processes, not only to have ensured there would be no reduction in funding for the arts and culture areas of my Department for 2015, but also to have secured an additional €2 million in funding for the national cultural institutions. All of these institutions have unavoidably taken reductions in their allocations in recent years, as the Government worked to re-balance the public finances. The institutions are to be commended on their commitment in continuing to provide excellent services to the public and to protect our national collections, notwithstanding the reduced resources available to them during this time. The additional allocation to each institution for 2015 was determined, having regard to the specific needs and issues identified by my Department as part of an ongoing consultation with the individual institutions, as well as the overall level of funding available.

Accordingly, I decided to make the following additional allocations for 2015: some €650,000 for the National Museum to assist with the cost of pay, storage, utilities and education initiatives; €600,000 for the National Library towards the cost of keeping the National Photographic Archive open, maintaining opening hours at the library generally and security; some €100,000 for the National Archives towards operational costs and commemorative projects; some €100,000 for the National Gallery towards the costs of its exhibition programme for 2015; some €100,000 for the National Concert Hall to support its development office and education and outreach programme; some €100,000 for the Irish Museum of Modern Art towards the costs of its commemorative programme; some €100,000 for the Chester Beatty Library towards its staffing and operational costs; and some €100,000 for the Crawford Art Gallery towards its staffing costs and exhibition and commemorations programmes. A contingency of €150,000 was retained and will be available to meet specific needs that may arise during the year.

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