Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the children’s science museum National Concert Hall project has commenced; if so, the stage the project is at; when the project is expected to go out for tender; when construction will commence; when the project will be completed; the estimated cost of the project; the amount spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38073/19]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Within the context of Project Ireland 2040 plan, the Government launched in 2018 a major investment plan in our Culture, Language and Heritage for the period 2018 to 2027.   As part of this plan, the Government has provided funding of €78m for a major refurbishment and extension of the National Concert Hall's facilities at Earlsfort Terrace. The Office of Public Works has already appointed a Design Team in order to progress this prestigious project. It is expected that works will commence next year and will be carried out on a multi phased basis over the life time of the plan, subject to the receipt of any necessary statutory, planning approvals.

Planning permission for the proposed new National Children's Science Museum, which is currently estimated to cost €37m,  was received from An Bord Pleanála in September 2016. A design team is progressing into the detail design stage and it is anticipated that tenders will issue in 2020 with construction starting  in the latter half of 2020, which will take approximately two years to complete. Expenditure to date for the two projects totals €400,000.