Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the discussions she has had with the national cultural institutions to extend their opening times, particularly during the summer period; the estimated cost of opening late twice a week and for a half day on Monday; the steps that she has taken to promote the national museums here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27231/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Whilst my Department provides funding to the National Cultural Institutions, the Board of each Institution is responsible for all operational matters relating to the institution, including opening hours, and I do not have a statutory function in respect of day-to-day operational matters.

The opening hours at the National Cultural Institutions is a matter which is kept routinely under review by the institutions. These bodies are now operating in a much changed financial situation and with reduced Exchequer resources. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the National Archives, the National Library of Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland, and the Crawford Art Gallery Cork already open for a full day on Mondays and, therefore, the question of extending opening times to include Mondays does not arise in their case. Similarly, for the summer period (from 1 May to 30 September) the Chester Beatty Library also opens on Mondays. The National Gallery and the Crawford Art Gallery Cork also remain open late on Thursdays. The National Library remains open until 9.00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The National Concert Hall is, of course, open in the evenings. All the institutions are open at weekends.

Based on information received from the Institutions, my Department estimates that the extension of late opening hours two evenings a week and opening for a half day on Mondays to all of our National Cultural Institutions would cost in the region of an additional €1.3 million a year. This additional funding would be difficult to secure at the current time. My Department continues to consult with our National Cultural Institutions in relation to this matter and actively encourages the provision of additional public access within current budgetary constraints. My Department has also provided funding since 2006 toward Culture Night, when all our National Cultural Institutions remain open until late in the evening, allowing people access to our national collections outside of regular visiting hours.