Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

804. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on the works in respect of the natural history museum; and the date on which it is expected to reopen. [12388/25]

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

805. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total budget for works in respect of the natural history museum; the amount expended to date; and if he will further provide a schedule of all external consultants and contractors engaged in the works and costs of same to date. [12389/25]

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

806. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention and or that of his officials has been drawn to any issues, difficulties, challenges or areas of concern in respect of the ongoing works at the natural history museum; if the leadership team of the museum and or the project management team have corresponded with and or met with his officials since the works commenced; and if so, the dates on which respective teams met online or in person. [12390/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 804 to 806, inclusive, together.

The redevelopment of a city-centre heritage property such as the Natural History Museum with a precious and delicate collection is, by its very nature, a challenging and difficult undertaking. The project scope encompasses the entire four storey building and aims to address the structural, environmental and accessibility issues of the Museum, as well as provide a compelling and thought-provoking visitor experience. The development of a complex project such as this is based on a thorough business case process, a detailed design and the input of specialist expertise. Notwithstanding the difficulty of project, I am informed that no significant unforeseen challenges have been identified in recent times.

The redevelopment of the Museum is taking place in line within the framework of the Infrastructure Guidelines, set out by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, which establish a project lifecycle of consecutive stages, each of which requires its own activities, processes and outputs, and clear Approval Gates. In 2022, approval was granted for the Preliminary Business Case (PBC) and for the project to proceed to the next phase. In 2023, approval was then granted to proceed to the design phase of the redevelopment project and a design team were appointed in June 2024. One of the key tasks of the design team will be the initiation of investigative works. An extensive and comprehensive decant of the collection must also be undertaken by the Museum in advance of any investigative works.

Set within that framework, the Department, the OPW and National Museum of Ireland have an agreed structure for the institutional oversight, governance and operational arrangements for the redevelopment programme. The project is overseen and managed by a Steering Group (to direct projects at a strategic level), a Project Team, (to undertake the management of the project) and the Steering Group may also establish any other working or interim groups as needed. The National Museum of Ireland, the OPW and the Department are all represented on these oversight and management structures.

Since they commenced in December 2022 and May 2023 respectively, the Steering Group and Project Team meet approximately six times each per annum. The Department have also met with the NMI and the OPW in regard to the NHM project as needed on other issues outside of the formal governance structure.

In line with the Infrastructure Guidelines, development of the project is subject to continuous evaluation and planning, and estimated costs and timelines continue to be refined as the project progress towards the Final Business Case and appointment of contractors. The redevelopment of the NHM building is currently in the Pre-tender-Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy phase. Ultimately, the market response to tenders will inform the project budget and costs will be re-examined before any decision is made to award any contracts.

The spend to date on the project is just over €1.07m. I have asked my officials to compile a list of external consultants and contractors engaged in the works as requested by Deputy and to communicate it to him directly.