Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will provide funding for a minimum expenditure model of works to open the two closed floors of the Natural History Museum as an interim measure until such time as funding is available to complete the redevelopment of the museum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34814/10]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport her views on a minimum expenditure model of works to open the two closed floors of the Natural History Museum as an interim measure until such time as funding is available to complete the redevelopment of the museum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34813/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 355 together.

The original development proposals in respect of the Natural History Museum arose primarily from the need to provide for universal accessibility to the facility, including to the upper floors and balconies. Unfortunately, given the change in the Exchequer circumstances, it has not been possible to proceed in full with these proposals. As the Natural History Museum is listed as a protected structure with Dublin City Council, redevelopment works to the premises are subject to regulation by that authority. The original development proposals included a plan to build a new structure beside the Museum which would include a lift and provide universal access to all levels.

In order to facilitate the reopening of the Natural History Museum within as short a time frame as possible, and having regard to the limited capital resources now available, it was agreed by the National Museum, the OPW and my Department to proceed with a programme of refurbishment works that included the following new features:

· Ramp access to front door to facilitate wheelchair users and families with buggies;

· Wheelchair accessible toilet facilities;

· Improved visitor safety (smoke partitions, restored staircase, installation of a safety net under the glass ceiling);

· An education space at ground floor level for activities and hands-on access to animals for visitors;

· New seating at several locations within the building;

· A reading and children's area at first floor level;

· Improved lighting at ground floor level;

· Exclusion of ultraviolet light to prevent exhibits fading in sunlight;

· Installation of new stairs at rear of building; and

· Repainting and treatment of walls, floors and display cases throughout.

The completion of these works allowed for the reopening of the Natural History Museum to the public on Thursday 29th April 2010.

My Department, the National Museum and the OPW remain conscious of the need to provide full public access to the upper balcony levels of the Natural History Museum and continue to explore means of providing this at a reasonable cost. There is a management system in place to facilitate controlled supervised access to the balconies.