Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 1233: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has plans to avert the closure of Dunsink Observatory; her views on whether the important buildings will be liable to vandalism when it is not occupied full time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1898/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies has no intention of closing Dunsink and that the institute continues to regard it as a valuable resource which it is seeking to develop for the benefit of science and the institute.

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, in its strategy statement, identified the conduct of regular reviews of the academic work of its three constituent schools as a critical factor for its success. I understand from the institute that it established independent panels of international experts during 2004 to carry out such reviews of the research work of its three constitutent schools.

The council of the institute and the School of Cosmic Physics accepted the recommendations of the external review group that the research staff of the astronomy section, based in Dunsink, should be relocated with the astrophysics section and arrangements are being examined to progress this issue. The institute will continue with its current security arrangements at Dunsink following any relocation of its research staff.