Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made on the sports museum and Irish literature museum as promised in the programme for Government 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8527/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As I stated in my reply to Questions. Nos. 822 to 847 of 27 January 2009, the position is that progress on these two commitments and the other commitments in the Programme for Government is being sustained commensurate with available resources.

A steering committee chaired by my Department has been established to oversee the Museum of Irish Literature project and work on the drafting of terms of reference for a scoping study is at an advanced stage. If this scoping study is to be of real benefit, however, the time-lag between it and undertaking capital works on the premises to accommodate the Museum of Irish Literature would need to be quite short. Nos. 20/21 Parnell Square have been identified as a suitable location for this museum but substantial capital funding would be required which is outside the scope and capacity of current budgets.

With regard to the establishment of a Sports Museum, my Department has held discussions with the National Museum of Ireland regarding how to carry this project forward. The Museum has had initial contacts with sporting organisations on the availability of memorabilia in the context of the establishment of a National Sports Museum. The Museum is to prepare proposals on housing the Sports Museum in Collins Barracks. The Museum's priority at present for Collins Barracks is the provision of the new Centre Block, which is also a commitment in the Programme for Government. The Sports Museum will be considered in the future in the light of available funding.