Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the proposal to amalgamate the National Archives with the National Library is still his policy; his views on whether this is in the best interest of the archives and the library; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16447/09]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress on legislation to amalgamate certain bodies under the aegis of his Department; when it is expected this legalisation will come before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16365/09]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the status of proposals 25, 26 and 27 contained within annex D of Budget 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16281/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 109 and 316 together.

A consultative process is underway with the Directors of the national cultural institutions involved whereby consideration is being given to the future arrangements necessary to give effect to the decisions to combine the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Crawford Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Ireland, while retaining their separate brand identities, and to merge the National Archives, the Irish Manuscripts Commission and the National Library.

The Department is working on the Heads of a Bill to give effect to the required legislative changes. These changes will include amendment of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, the National Archives Act, 1986 and the National Gallery Acts, 1854 to 1963 and the creation of new legislative provisions. It is my intention that the best structures for our national cultural institutions will be put in place. It is not possible at this stage to state when the legislation will come before the Houses of the Oireachtas but work on it is a priority of the Department.

With regard to the decision that Culture Ireland is to remain a part of the Department rather than be established as a statutory agency, I can report to the House that this decision has been implemented.