Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the discussions she has had with regard to the development of the Bank of Ireland building on College Green, Dublin 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5528/15]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In April of last year, the Minister's predecessor informed me that he had agreed that the Bank of Ireland building on College Green would be developed as a cultural and heritage centre. The aim behind Question No. 136 is to explore with the Minister the progress that has been made with regard to the planning for that development in the interim. Last April, her predecessor's plans were quite sketchy but he did indicate that this cultural and heritage centre would be developed in the context of the decade of centenaries.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In February 2014, an announcement was made in respect of a partnership between the State and the Bank of Ireland, which will result in the creation of a new cultural and heritage centre at the bank's College Green building, the former Parliament House. Bank of Ireland has made the space available for this centre to the State for a ten-year period and will cover the agreed refurbishment and operational costs that arise. My Department, in partnership with the bank, will manage, operate and animate the space for this period. When open for use, the cultural and heritage centre will be accessed by the public via the Gandon-designed entrance to the College Green buildings on Westmoreland Street. Since the announcement in February 2014, my Department has been liaising with the bank in identifying the scope of works necessary to convert the space in question to cultural and heritage use. The bank will be applying to Dublin City Council for planning permission for these works. At this stage, it is anticipated that the centre will be ready for use by cultural bodies in 2016, subject to grant of planning permission as applicable.

The ten-year licence for use of the cultural and heritage centre, to be executed between the bank and my Department, will overlap with the decade of centenaries. It is envisaged, therefore, that exhibitions at the centre will include a focus on key events in Irish history up to the centenary of the Civil War which led to the creation of modern Ireland.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for the update she provided. I would be interested in discovering what is meant by her proposal to "animate the space". Perhaps she might indicate the type of events that are likely to take place at the centre.

One assumes that if planning permission is being prepared for Dublin City Council, planning for the overall use of the space is at a fairly advanced stage. Therefore, could the Minister be a little more specific on what sorts of event will take place there?

Could the Minister tell us what is envisaged for ten years down the line? Will the building simply revert to being a Bank of Ireland building or will it continue to be used for cultural and heritage purposes? I imagine that many people will appreciate the project's development if it is carried out well and would be reluctant to see it put to another use, if that is to be the case.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To answer the last question first, it is currently a ten-year partnership. I am sure this can be re-examined when the ten years are up. We will leave that for now.

We are working to make progress on the project as a priority. Expressions of interest for the use of the facility were invited through public advertisement on my Department's website. Those expressions have been considered by an assessment panel, and I intend to announce the successful applicant in the near future.

The bank is applying to Dublin City Council for planning permission for works to convert the building into a culture and heritage centre. It is anticipated that the building will be ready for use in 2016. The license arrangement had to be agreed, and this took some time as there was no precedent for it. A number of issues had to be addressed at the same time, such as planning permission and the restoration plan. It is an historic building and the project is close to being concluded.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I am still not sure what the Minister means when she says she is going to animate the place. That said, I have two very specific questions. One is on staffing and the other is on resourcing. Deputy Catherine Murphy has alluded to the difficulties that the other national cultural institutions face owing to ongoing funding pressures. We are well aware of these. Although the Department is entering a partnership arrangement with the Bank of Ireland, one assumes none the less that the Department will be incurring significant costs. What are those costs? Is the Minister prepared to publish the staffing and resources plan she has for this development, which plan is being prepared in parallel with the planning application? It will not run on fresh air; somebody will have to pay for it. Where will the money come from? Can the Minister assure us that the money will not be taken from other cash-strapped cultural institutions?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This is a unique partnership involving the use of an historic space. It takes time to get the legalities and other matters right. Therefore, I am not in a position to give the Deputy any further information on what is taking place, other than to say that the project was advertised, expressions of interest have been considered by the assessment panel, and I intend to announce the successful applicant in the near future.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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What were the applicants interested in?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The use of the facility.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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For what?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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For what we are going to use it for in terms of what is going to be put in it. It is for the creation of a culture and heritage centre. I am sorry I cannot give the Deputy any further details. A few issues have yet to be resolved. The project is progressing well. As soon as I have the final details, I will be happy to let the Deputy know.