Written answers
Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
National Cultural Institutions
Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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670. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of days each of the national cultural institutions was closed to the public, or portions were closed to the public in 2018 and to date in 2019 due to health and safety concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43498/19]
Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The following table sets out the days on which National Cultural Institutions were closed or partially closed due to health and safety concerns:
National Cultural Institution | 2018 and Reason for Closure | 2019 and Reason for Closure |
|---|---|---|
| Chester Beatty Library (CBL) | 1 Day for Health & Safety concern | Not Applicable |
| Crawford Art Gallery (CAG) | Partial Closure - Individual galleries were closed to public due to health and safety reasons on 2 occasions | Partial Closure - Individual galleries were closed to the public due to health and safety reason on 1 occasion |
| Irish Museum of Modern Art | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| National Concert Hall | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| National Library of Ireland (NLI) | Partial Closure - National Photographic Archive (NPA) only due to erection of scaffolding for 2 occasions | Not Applicable |
| National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) | Not Applicable | Partial Closure - NGI was partially closed (Dargan and Milltown wings only) from the 28th May to 10th September 2019 due to a lighting installation issue. The Millennium wing and Beit wing remained open to the public. |
| National Archives | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| National Museum of Ireland | Partial Closure - NMI Decorative Arts & History closed one hour early due to Papal Mass - Garda Recommendation | Partial Closure - NMI Kildare St. Fadden More Psalter Gallery closed for half a day due to heavy rainfall, water egress into gallery space |
| Partial Closure - NMI Natural History Museum closed for half a day due to branch of tree hanging precariously adjacent to entrance to Museum to facilitate its removal | Partial Closure - NMI Kildare St. - section of the Medieval Gallery closed on one afternoon due to water egress into gallery space following heavy rain. | |
| Partial Closure - NMI Natural History Museum two upper floor balconies due to lack of fire exits and health and safety concerns. All of 2018 and to date in 2019 | Partial Closure - NMI Natural History Museum First Floor closed for one day due to heavy rainfall, water egress through roof onto first floor |
There have also been closures due to weather warnings.
These matters are day to day operational matters for each of the National Cultural Institutions under my auspices.
Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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671. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of visitor numbers to each of the national cultural institutions in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43499/19]
Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The following table sets out the visitor numbers for each National Cultural Institution from 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019.
| Visitor Figures 2010-2019 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCI | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Jan - Sep 2019 |
| CBL | 206,653 | 247,729 | 255,704 | 250,659 | 304,119 | 343,929 | 371,211 | 335,875 | 349,516 | 293,357 |
| CAG | 188,823 | 187,311 | 190,217 | 177,409 | 163,887 | 175,902 | 178,302 | 188,814 | 230,989 | 199,017 |
| IMMA | 418,977 | 362,955 | 63,642 | 121,221 | 306,662 | 485,702 | 584,856 | 489,295 | 505,891 | 379,819 |
| NCH | 318,667 | 293,639 | 322,222 | 315,508 | 329,659 | 321,585 | 312,339 | 316,497 | 299,643 | 223,643 |
| NMI | 992,953 | 1,096,027 | 1,071,193 | 1,039,137 | 1,099,581 | 1,211,244 | 1,315,776 | 1,161,495 | 1,127,999 | 1,029,193 |
| NLI | 189,882 | 206,342 | 181,152 | 260,152 | 270,394 | 248,836 | 247,242 | 197,245 | 237,229 | 208,841 |
| NGI | 736,855 | 624,412 | 660,486 | 640,824 | 593,183 | 718,637 | 755,577 | 1,065,929 | 775,301 | 573,968 |
| NAI | 15,242 | 13,907 | 13,576 | 12,987 | 11,725 | 11,815 | 8,746 | 9,152 | 8,498 | 7,546 |
| Total | 3,068,052 | 3,032,322 | 2,758,192 | 2,817,897 | 3,079,210 | 3,517,650 | 3,774,049 | 3,764,302 | 3,535,066 | 2,915,384 |
* IMMA partly closed for refurbishment
CBL = Chester Beatty Library
CAG = Crawford Art Gallery
IMMA = Irish Museum of Modern Art
NCH = National Concert Hall
NMI = National Museum of Ireland
NLI = National Library of Ireland
NGI = National Gallery of Ireland
The level of visitor numbers to the national cultural institutions is a testament to the varied and engaging programmes prepared by each of them. However, I am conscious of the need for investment in our national cultural institutions to ensure that they can accommodate the many visitors who wish to engage with our national collections and programmes. As part of Project Ireland 2040 a total of €460 million will be invested in our institutions to address long standing infrastructural problems and to bring them up to 21st century international standards.
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