Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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474. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the museum at the Garda College has been closed; the person or body that took this decision; the consultation that took place; his views on this decision; if the museum will be reopened in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6460/20]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the administration and management of An Garda Síochána is by law a matter for the Garda Commissioner and not for me as Minister.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there has never been a formal Museum at the Garda College. That said, I understand that over time, a building which had been designed as a Communication Centre was used to store artefacts which were displayed in a way that allowed viewing by particular groups of the public visiting the Garda College.

As the Deputy will appreciate and in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, public access to the Garda College has been prohibited since 12 March 2020.  Further, newly attested Gardaí as well as 164 sworn members of Garda College staff have been deployed to operational duties in order to enhance Garda capacity to respond to that pandemic.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in keeping with a revised approach to space management, the artefacts which were previously housed in the Communication Centre are being re-distributed throughout the College, to create a walking tour of the College and enhance community engagement, when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.