Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of pieces of valuable art that are in storage because of a lack of facilities, staff or restoration services; if he can provide examples of some of the more expensive and exciting items that have not yet been put on display; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4752/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The State's principal art collections are managed by the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork.

The National Gallery of Ireland operates as an autonomous statutory body in accordance with the provisions of the National Gallery of Ireland Act 1928, as amended. The Crawford Art Gallery Cork and the Irish Museum of Modern Art are both incorporated as companies limited by guarantee in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Acts 1963-2005. The Boards of these National Cultural Institutions are responsible for all operational matters relating to their institutions, including storage and exhibitions, and I, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, do not have a statutory function in respect of operational matters.

I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that, for security reasons, it is not appropriate to comment on the number, value or significance of art works held by these institutions, either in storage or elsewhere. It is common policy for public art galleries to rotate their collections and, as a practice, galleries do not maintain static displays. The rotation of the collections and grouping of art works under inventive exhibition themes maintains the public profile of the galleries and helps attract increased visitor numbers.