Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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412. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the future governance of the National Gallery of Ireland, the Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Gallery in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36477/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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In the context of the Public Sector Reform Plan, the Government has agreed a range of reform actions in respect of the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery Cork. The range of reforms includes the updating and streamlining of the corporate governance framework for all three institutions. In addition, the number of board members will be reduced, and members will serve pro bono. There will also be ongoing shared service arrangements between all three institutions in order to ensure more effective use of resources. The reforms will respect the curatorial and artistic independence of the directors of all three institutions. The process of preparing the draft legislation to give statutory effect to these reforms is underway. In the meantime, I am pursuing the administrative implementation of them.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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413. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the future governance of the National Archives and the Irish Manuscripts Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36478/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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There is no change proposed to the governance of the National Archives, which is part of my Department. The Deputy will be aware that as part of a range of reforms agreed by Government under the Public Service Reform Plan, it was decided, inter alia, that the Irish Manuscripts Commission will retain its existing functions, but be re-constituted as a pro bono committee of academic experts, with its staff and funding being brought within the administrative remit of the National Library. The membership of the National Archives Advisory Council will be reduced and will continue to operate pro bono.

Work is ongoing bilaterally with the Directors of the relevant institutions and regular meetings of my Departments' Reform Committee have taken place to further the implementation of the Government's Reform Plan. I intend to seek Government approval in the coming weeks for a draft Heads of Bill, which will enable the drafting of legislation to give effect to the reform measures that are being undertaken by my Department.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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414. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the future governance of the National Library and the National Museum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36479/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Engagement with the national cultural institutions on the Reform Agenda is ongoing and intensive.

In relation to the Boards of the National Library and the National Museum, work is ongoing bilaterally with the Directors of the institutions and regular meetings of my Departments' Reform Committee have taken place to further the implementation of the Government's Reform Plan. I intend to seek Government approval in the coming weeks for draft Heads of Bill, which will provide the necessary legislation to give effect to the reform measures in relation the Boards and governance arrangements.