John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he has taken to update security procedures around works of art belonging to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12977/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The national cultural institutions under the aegis of my Department manage important collections of art and other artefacts on behalf of the State. While my Department provides funding to these institutions the board of each institution is responsible for all operational matters, including security arrangements and procedures and I have no statutory function in respect of such matters. Notwithstanding this, I am aware that the security of the collections is a matter which is routinely kept under review by all of the institutions. My Department maintains appropriate contact with them on the subject of their security measures and the arrangements in place to ensure the protection of the collections in their care.

My Department owns several pieces of art and other artefacts in its own right in a number of properties. In light of a recent incident involving the loss of several items held in private storage on behalf of my Department I instructed as follows: that an inventory and physical check take place in respect of all artwork, furniture and other similar items held by my Department; in cases where any such art and other artefacts were held in storage, they should be moved to secure State facilities; and that a review be carried out of the procedures and protocols in place relating to the storage of art and artefacts by my Department. All of these actions have been completed. Separately, the Office of Public Works is responsible for the care and management of art pieces in a wide range of State properties.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. There are two areas of concern. Last October, the OPW reported that 37 pieces of art in these Houses were unaccounted for and this was widely reported in the national press at the time. What has happened to these? Given that I come from Kildare I am especially interested in the fact that there was apparently a theft of items which were being kept in storage in County Kildare. This was discovered in October when several of those items were offered for sale.

The Minister has informed us that the audit is complete and that a review of security provisions is taking place. I put it to the Minister that one of the things highlighted by the storage issue is that we should not have items that have been bequeathed to the State kept in storage. Given the facilities we have in this city and throughout the country, including all the arts centres and museums, does the Minister agree that it would be desirable for anything in storage that can be taken out of storage to be taken out and made available in order that people can enjoy them? They should be on public display.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The items in question were in storage for some time. They were taken from Killarney House and put in storage pending the restoration of the house which is under way. There is an active investigation of the theft being carried out by the Garda authorities under the direction of an assistant commissioner. At the moment I have been advised not to dwell on the issue for operational reasons. Obviously, we are taking this seriously and progress is being made.

I agree with Deputy Ó Fearghaíl that we have good storage space in Swords at the moment. Any property in the ownership of the State should not be in private storage and if it is not on display in the credited museums to which Deputy Ó Fearghaíl referred, then it should be in State storage. This is what I have directed people to do. The items from Killarney House were taken from where they were and placed in storage. Many of the artefacts in question from Killarney House are now in State storage in Swords.