Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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279. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has received allegations of inappropriate behaviour relating to certain staff in the National Museum of Ireland; the dates of the receipt of these allegations; and if all of these reports are still in existence in their entirety. [9166/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am unclear as to the timescale to which the Deputy is referring in his question.  Since I was first appointed as Minister in July 2014, I am advised that my Department has not received any written allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the National Museum of Ireland.  For the sake of clarity, in relation to the Irish Independent news story of 16-02-17, I am advised that my Department has not received any specific correspondence in relation to allegations concerning the individual staff member to which the article refers.

In April 2012, my predecessor was in receipt of correspondence relating to general staff issues at the National Museum of Ireland.

While it would not be appropriate for me to directly intervene in HR issues, the Deputy should be aware that I and senior officials have had discussions with the Chair of the Museum in relation to historic staffing issues recently referred to in the media.  On foot of these discussions, I have also been assured that steps are being taken to address the issues highlighted in the wellbeing survey (also recently highlighted in the media) which was commissioned by the Museum to improve its working environment.

I am supportive of the Chair and the new Board, which I appointed in July 2016, in implementing change in the Museum and in preparing new plans to improve the Museum's services to the public over the coming years. I have offered to provide any additional support if required in dealing with these issues.

This work - which falls under the Masterplan process - currently underway at the Museum, will set a positive framework for staff and stakeholders to engage with the Museum well into the future.