Total spend on state artworks on value of those in storage

Answered on July 9, 2013
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total spend on artworks in each of the past seven years by his Department and bodies under his aegis.

Reply from Minister Jimmy Deenihan: The three main collecting institutions under the auspices of my Department are the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery.

Whilst my Department provides funding to the National Cultural Institutions, the Board of each institution is responsible for all operational matters, including acquisitions of artworks, and I do not have a statutory function in respect of such day-to-day matters.  

However, I am having the position regarding the total spend on artworks by my Department directly over the last seven years clarified and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.


Deputy Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated value of artworks owned by the State, under the aegis of his Department, that are currently in storage.

Reply from Minister Deenihan: The three main collecting institutions under the auspices of my Department are the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery.

Whilst my Department provides funding to the National Cultural Institutions, the Board of each institution is responsible for all operational matters, including storage of artworks, and I do not have a statutory function in respect of such day-to-day matters.  

I am having the position regarding the estimated value of artworks owned by the State under the aegis of this Department clarified and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.