Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 41: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when it is envisaged that the Natural History Museum will reopen; the nature of the work to be carried out before its reopening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22796/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The position, as stated in my reply to parliamentary question, reference number 16464/09, on 28 April 2009, is that a programme of works for the Natural History Museum has been agreed between the National Museum of Ireland, the Office of Public Works and my Department. This programme of works is designed to facilitate the reopening of the museum in September of this year and includes work to facilitate appropriate fire evacuation procedures, the reinstatement of the stone staircase, the introduction of a ramp to the front door and works of a minor nature relating to decoration and presentation.

The Deputy may also wish to note that an exhibition of artefacts from the Natural History Museum opened in the Riding School at Collins Barracks on 6 May this year. This exhibition showcases key items from the Natural History Museum's collection, thereby allowing the public access to some of the collection in advance of the reopening of the Natural History Museum in Merrion Street in September.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is the third summer our Natural History Museum, one of our major attractions, will be closed. There has been a disappointing lack of activity in respect of it, which has landed us in a position where we are worse off than we were previously. The replacement of the staircase that collapsed was postponed in order to include additional work to improve access, namely, to provide access for people with disabilities to toilets on the second floor, and to provide a coffee shop. It is now planned to reopen the museum but the Minister failed to mention that 35% less exhibition space will be available than was available before this work started due to the need to address fire and safety risks.

Does the Minister agree it is a travesty that less exhibition space will be available when the purpose of this work and the debate on all the cultural institutions has been on increasing exhibition and storage space? Despite the €15 million that was provided in the national development plan for this work alone, less exhibition space will be available in the museum. Funding for it has fallen to €1.5 million and most of it, as the Minister said, has been used to provide fire evacuation procedures. Effectively, there has been no net increase in the exhibition space or in anything to attract people to the museum. Even the museum's biggest attraction, the Dodo skeleton, will not be accessible because it is in part of the exhibition space that will be cut off. There is more activity from the Dodo than there has been from the Minister's Department on this project.

Will the Minister be in a position to give a guarantee in writing that the staff will require to ensure that when this greatly reduced facility is opened it will be safe to open from both the staff and the public, bearing in mind that the reason it closed in the first place was the collapse of the staircase?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is the first summer in which I have had direct responsibility for the Natural History Museum, and I am glad to say a major exhibition is open in Collins Barracks and is going very well. I opened it myself and it is quite significant. It is better than nothing.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware of it, but it is a pathetic excuse for a natural history museum.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would not consider what the National Museum does as pathetic in any way. All its exhibitions are fairly good.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is a poor substitute.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is a fact that 35% of the exhibition space is being lost for safety reasons.

I mentioned the issue of disabled access to the toilets on the second floor, which was an urgent project even several years ago. Is it legal to reopen a public building without access to toilets for disabled people?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information I have is that a ramp is being added to the front door to facilitate the people to whom the Deputy refers. I do not have the information the Deputy requires before me but I will try to get it.