Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if, in view of the planned closure of Irish Museum of Modern Art from November 2011 to January 2013, he will provide an outline of the schedule of works; the position regarding staff during renovations; if he will give confirmation that it will open again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29880/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The primary purpose of the works at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is to upgrade to modern standards the fire, safety and security systems in the premises. The work will be carried out in different phases over the course of 2012 and will consist of external works in the grounds to install new security infrastructure, the provision of a new security room within the building, rewiring for the new systems on the three floors of the East, West and South wings, which will involve the stripping out of all the old systems, lifting of floorboards, taking down ceilings and their subsequent reinstatement, and the installation of additional fire stopping measures.

IMMA will retain a presence at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham (RHK) site during its closure via its exhibition programme in the New Galleries and the Artists' Residency Programme. The café, bookshop and grounds will also remain open to visitors. All other IMMA staff will move to alternative accommodation during the period of the closure of the RHK site and this process has just commenced in relation to administrative staff. The works are due to be completed in time for IMMA/RHK to re-open in early 2013. Meanwhile, IMMA, my Department and OPW are working to relocate the IMMA exhibition programme to the site used by Dublin Contemporary 2011 at the National Concert Hall complex at Earlsfort Terrace for Spring 2012.