Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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986.To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total expenditure, both current and capital, allocated to local and regional museums and galleries in State ownership each year for the past five years. [33473/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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There are six museum and gallery institutions that hold the status of a National Cultural Institution and were established by legislation, or established by the State through other structure such as a company limited by guarantee, or are otherwise substantially funded by the State. These are:

- The National Gallery of Ireland

- The National Museum of Ireland

- The Irish Museum of Modern Art

- The Crawford Art Gallery

- The Chester Beatty

Outside of these Institutions, the State does not establish or operate local and regional museums and galleries, or provide direct operational funding for these. Such needs are usually addressed in the first instance by local authorities, most often in association with community groups.

I appreciate the importance of the network of local museums which, with their specialist interests or local significance, contribute to the conservation and promotion of our heritage. In that context my Department provides support to the Irish Museums Association which fosters mutual support and best practice in museum management.

My Department does however operate two schemes that may be relevant to the collection and collation of local historical artefacts.

The Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme is a scheme of funding support from my Department for local, regional and specialised museums, with their own permanent premises, to promote and enhance these institutions through the provision of funding for capital exhibition costs. The scheme provides grants for capital works which enhance the exhibition/display facilities within the museum or which promote access to the museum. The objective is to create a fund to assist museums in contributing to the national and local culture through exhibition programmes for both locals and visitors alike.

The Scheme operates on a matched funding basis, where 25% of the proposed costs must be provided by the applicant.

My Department also runs a Mobility of Collections scheme for the dissemination of the National Collections to regional museums and to support greater regional and local access to material held in the National Collections. The Scheme is designed to fund the transport, cost of insurance and exhibiting costs for pieces from the National Collections to appropriate institutions around the country. The closing date for receipt of applications for funding under the scheme is the 2nd of August 2024.

Information on funding in respect of these supports for the years 2020 to 2023 is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/6acdc-cultural-projects-funding/. Funding for 2024 will be announced shortly.

Museums may may also contact their local authority or the Heritage Council for possible funding opportunities.