John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the take-up there has been for the pilot scheme for mobility of museum collections; the amount of the €100,000 that has been committed to specific projects; the way the scheme will be evaluated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24516/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am anxious to encourage greater exposure to the collections held by the National Cultural Institutions and to encourage cooperation between them and local and regional Museums particularly outside of Dublin. The purpose of the mobility of collections scheme established by my Department is to support greater regional/local access to material held in the National Cultural Institutions. In situations where the National Cultural Institutions have entered into agreement with the local and regional museums for the loan and display of artefacts, the scheme will address the cost of exhibition, transport and insurance in transit of these artefacts in connection with their display in appropriate museums and galleries.

The institutions eligible to benefit from the Fund are Museums designated by the National Museum of Ireland under the National Monuments Act, 1994 and museums and galleries accredited under the Heritage Council Gallery accreditation scheme. My Department has informed these institutions and the Directors of the National Cultural Institutions of this scheme. The exhibition of artefacts from the National collections in locations outside of Dublin will enhance public access to parts of the National collections. It is not possible for the National Cultural Institutions to display all of their collections at the one time and the purpose of this scheme is to assist in making part of the National collections more widely accessible to the public throughout the country. To date in 2008 over €4,200 has been drawn down by regional museums under the scheme.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding that has been made available to the National Museum to facilitate the removal of artefacts to allow the refurbishment and repairs to take place at the Natural History Museum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24459/08]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans there are to increase facilities for storage at the Natural History Museum as part of the planned repairs and refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter [24517/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 94 together.

The refurbishment of the Natural History Museum and the provision of additional storage for the Museum generally will be met from funds allocated under the Culture Sub Programme of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013. Funding of €15 million has been earmarked for the Natural History Museum to address universal access to the Museum and its refurbishment. €30 million has also been earmarked for off site storage for the National Cultural Institutions, including the Museum.

Capital funding of €26.3 million has been provided for the ongoing capital requirements of the National Museum in the NDP, of which €4.6 million was allocated this year. In addition, in 2008 this Department provided the National Museum with a current funding allocation in excess of €14 million. This current and capital grant-in-aid allocation provides for the day-to-day running costs of the Museum and for capital works and acquisitions. Arrangements have now been agreed for an exhibition of elements of the Natural History Museum Collection at Collins Barracks beginning early in 2009.