Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1756. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she is taking to appoint a zoological and insect curator at the Natural History Museum; her plans to reopen the upper floor of the museum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33539/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, whilst my Department provides funding to National Museum of Ireland, the board of that institution is responsible for all operational matters, including recruitment, and I have no direct function in these matters. The moratorium on recruitment within the public service applies to the National Museum in like manner to Government Departments, State bodies and non-commercial agencies, including all of the National Cultural Institutions. Any applications for exemptions from the moratorium are dealt with by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a case by case basis in the context of the overall Employment Control Frameworks for the relevant institutions and/or organisation.

In this context, I am given to understand that the Museum has recently carried out a comprehensive staff restructuring review and the outcome of this is currently the subject of ongoing discussions between management at the Museum, officials within my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with a view to determining how it might best be implemented within current financial and staffing number constraints.

My Department, the National Museum and the OPW remain conscious of the need to seek to provide full public access to the upper balcony levels of the Natural History Museum. The original development proposals in this regard included a plan to build a new structure beside the Museum, which would include a lift and provide universal access to all levels. Unfortunately, given the change in the Exchequer circumstances, it has not been possible to proceed in full with these proposals.

A programme of capital refurbishment works was completed in 2010 to facilitate the reopening of the Museum after a period of closure of almost 3 years. There is currently a management system in place to facilitate controlled supervised access to the balconies and my Department, the Museum and the OPW continue to explore all available means of providing access to the upper levels in the Museum at a reasonable cost.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1757. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will lift the cap on the recruitment of new staff at the Natural History Museum; and her views on the impact the level of staffing is having on the operation of the museum. [33566/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, whilst my Department provides funding to National Museum of Ireland, the board of that institution is responsible for all operational matters, including recruitment, and I have no direct function in these matters. The moratorium on recruitment within the public service applies to the National Museum in like manner to Government Departments, State bodies and non-commercial agencies, including all of the National Cultural Institutions. Any applications for exemptions from the moratorium are dealt with by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a case by case basis in the context of the overall Employment Control Frameworks for the relevant institutions and/or organisation.

In this context, I am given to understand that the Museum has recently carried out a comprehensive staff restructuring review and the outcome of this is currently the subject of ongoing discussions between management at the Museum, officials within my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with a view to determining how it might best be implemented within current financial and staffing number constraints.