Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I wish to discuss with the Minister of State this evening the planned consolidation of many of our national galleries. This is a matter that has been discussed, albeit briefly, within the media. To the best of my knowledge, it has not been the subject of much discussion within the Oireachtas.

My understanding is that the Minister of State's Department is poised to consolidate and amalgamate many of our major national galleries, in particular the Crawford Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham and the National Gallery. In raising this matter for discussion, I stress that I am approaching this with an open mind. I am a huge fan of the galleries mentioned and spend my spare time in the Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham, which is a magnificent institution within our city.

I am trying to flesh out and better understand the Government's plans in this regard. My first concern is that the Government, in any moves it might make, ensures that opportunities for young Irish artists, in particular, are not reduced. The Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham has a magnificent residential programme which allows young children to view artists' work and to engage with them on it, which is wonderful. My second concern relates to the funding arrangement that might pertain in the future. As I understand it — I must stress again there has not been much discussion of this issue in public — the funding arrangements for each of the galleries in question will be consolidated and the galleries in question will then draw from a central fund as opposed to managing their own budgets.

My third concern relates to the make-up of the board and composition of the different institutions and galleries as they stand. To what degree, in terms of any future arrangement, will the autonomy of the galleries need to be changed or reduced? This is an important point. Each of the three galleries referred to, all of which I am aware will be affected by this change, have their own unique identities and culture. I would be disappointed if, in the future, they were to be homogenised or reduced as a result of any changes that might take place. I have one question in addition to the concerns outlined. What savings, if any, will the Department recoup as a result of this move?

In raising this issue with the Minister of State, I have an open mind on it. This issue has not received the kind of debate it merits. I look forward to the Minister of State outlining the position and responding to the individual points I raised.