Calleary calls for clarity on museum funding

Government must clarify funding of National Museum – Deputy Calleary


Major funding shortfall causes concern

Áine Ryan

AS the 1916 centenary commemorations fast approach, Government must urgently clarify the funding future of the National Museum of Ireland, one section of which – Country Life – is based in Turlough Park, outside Castlebar.
That is the view of Fianna FΡil TD, Dara Calleary, who told The Mayo News last night that the four national museums (three in Dublin and one in Mayo) were ‘central to the country’s culture’.  
“It is ridiculous that in November 2014 there is a threat over our core cultural institutions, which should be at the heart of the 2015 commemorations. Surely a month after the annual Budget is announced, it is high-time there was clarity about their future and the level of services that will be provided,” Dara Calleary said.
In an exclusive story, The Mayo News recently revealed that the Board of Directors of the National Museum was very concerned about the institution’s funding. In early September, a source close to the board told The Mayo News that reductions in national government funding for the National Museum had put them under serious financial pressure, and that one of the options discussed was the closure of the facility at Turlough Park.
However, in a written response to the article, Dr John O’Mahony, the Chairman of the Board, stated: “Financial issues are of concern to the Board given the current economic climate and these are being discussed with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and her officials in the context of financial estimates for 2015.”
He continued: “The Board is confident that a resolution will be achieved that will ensure the long-term future of the institution, including the Museum of Country Life, which is a significant part of the National Museum.”
Now in a further development, the museum issued a statement last week confirming a funding increase of ‘€650,000 in 2015 was required in order to maintain services at existing minimal levels, along with certain assurances regarding liabilities’ but that the grant of €11,358,000 was the same amount as 2014.
“Since 2008, the number of visitors to the Museum (all four locations) has increased by 35 percent to a total of 1,071,193 while the number of web visitors has doubled to almost 500,000. In the same period, Exchequer funding has reduced from €19 million in 2008 to €11.4 million received in 2014 (a 40 percent reduction) while staff levels have been reduced from 210 in 2008 to 145 currently (a reduction of 31 percent),” the statement continued.
The Board said it was engaging with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, and her department in an effort to find solutions to the funding issues.