Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus leis an Seanadóir. Táim an-sásta a bheith sa Teach chun labhairt faoin infheistíocht tábhachtach inár bhforais chultúir náisiúnta.

Under the Government's national development plan, a programme of investment of €460 million, is envisaged to upgrade and reimagine Ireland's national cultural institutions. As the Senator indicated, this was set out in Project Ireland 2040, Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 to 2027, and reaffirmed in the most recent review of the national development plan.

Many of the national cultural institutions are housed in historic buildings. While this adds to the cultural experience, these buildings often require significant investment in order to keep them up to modern international standards. The investment plan recognises the importance of high-quality infrastructure in fostering vibrant culture and heritage sectors. That investment in our cultural heritage underpins real social cohesion and supports strong, sustainable economic growth.

The ambitious investment programme for the national cultural institutions, as put forward in the plan, is one of the largest single commitments to investment in these institutions in the history of the State. The investment is aligned with the national planning framework objective of ensuring that Ireland has a creative, innovative and culturally attuned society.

Guardianship and sustainability are central to the programme for Government, the national economic recovery plan, the national planning framework and the climate action plan. The Department's capital investment measures for the national cultural institutions will protect Ireland's tangible and intangible culture into the future.These major redevelopment projects will provide a world-class network of cultural infrastructure to increase capacity, deliver improved visitor experience, and address long-standing infrastructural issues, future-proofing our national cultural institutions, NCIs, for generations to come.

In recognition of the expectation that the majority of funding for this programme would be available from 2023, my Department has, over the past four years, invested heavily in ensuring that a robust appraisal and project development process is in place for the national cultural institution programme. This has meant that projects which were at concept stage in 2018 have undergone a rigorous process to fully elaborate the scope of the projects to be delivered, including through undertaking extensive investigative and survey works which are essential.

This has seen flagship projects move from initial concept, to appraisal, to detailed design. As a result, the projects emerging are better designed, better meet the objectives of the Department and the Government, and are based on the best available cost information than might otherwise be the case.

Over the next few years, there are a number of key projects. These include a project to provide a secure environmentally controlled archival repository in full compliance with internationally accepted archival storage standards at the National Archives, which is currently being tendered with a view to construction commencing later this year. There is also an ambitious development of the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, for which it is anticipated that the planning process will commence later this year. Moreover, there is a phased re-imagining project of the National Library to enhance the building, visitor experience, collections and works. Works as part of the earlier phases have already delivered a new and permanent home for the prints and drawings collection in the refurbished former seminar room of the 1827 wing and a state-of-the-art book store, which have both maximised the storage space available. These works have also provided an appropriate environment in which to safeguard the books. Design of the final works for the entire development is expected in 2022.

There is also a new development plan for the National Concert Hall complex, including a newly refurbished and extended main auditorium, improved musicians' facilities and a reorganisation of public facilities. The Department is currently reviewing the preliminary business case submitted in respect of this project. In addition, there are redevelopment and modernisation works planned at the Chester Beatty Library in conjunction with the Dublin Castle master plan of the Office of Public Works, OPW. The Department is currently reviewing the preliminary business case submitted and it is expected that an integrated design team will be procured later this year.

The Department is currently reviewing a preliminary business case in respect of the development project at the Abbey Theatre, a flagship development that will re-imagine our national theatre, while also contributing to the regeneration of this historic and important part of Dublin's city centre. A preliminary business case has also been completed in respect of the Natural History Museum, next door, a branch of the National Museum of Ireland, also next door, and the procurement of an integrated design team is due to commence in parallel with an investigative and preparatory works contract.

The Irish Museum of Modern Art, IMMA, is currently at strategic assessment report stage in respect of the redevelopment of the full site at Kilmainham.

At the National Gallery of Ireland, design and investigative work is under way in respect of 88-90 Merrion Square. This project will create a new entrance to the gallery, restore and enhance the gallery's library and create fit-for-purpose facilities for gallery administration, curation and research. In addition, work on the preliminary business case is underway for phase 4 of the National Gallery of Ireland master plan which will provide a detailed appraisal of options and related costs for the gallery's redevelopment. The National Gallery of Ireland redevelopment will build on the very successful reopening of the gallery's historic wings in 2017, a project, as the Senator has acknowledged, which showcased what is possible when we invest in our national cultural institutions.

The investment programme under the national development plan represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine these important public resources, which contribute very significantly to the social and cultural fabric of our society.

Just like in the education area, I am very proud to be back in government as part of the Fianna Fáil Party, because our commitment and record on the national cultural institutions, on culture and the arts in general, has been very strong throughout our periods of office. I very much look forward, as does the Senator, to seeing these particular projects which I have mentioned progress.