Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1776. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position in relation to the future of the National Museum of Country Life, Turlough, County Mayo; if her Department has received correspondence in relation to a funding shortfall at the museum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34725/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Museum of Country Life is one of four visitor sites operated by the National Museum of Ireland. It is home to the national collection of objects representing the traditional way of life in Ireland since 1850 and attracts in the region of 100,000 visitors per annum. The Museum is a major part of the cultural tourism infrastructure in the West of Ireland with an estimated benefit to the local economy of €4.5 million through tourism spend, direct and indirect employment and expenditure on local products and services. My Department is in receipt of correspondence from the National Museum in relation to the financial situation of the Museum as a whole and discussions are ongoing in this regard between my officials and the Museum in the context of the 2015 Estimates process. The Deputy may wish to note the clear statement by the Board and Director of the National Museum of Ireland to the effect that closure of the Museum of Country Life is not contemplated.