§ MR. DAWSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the designs for the New Museum and National Library in Dublin will be open to public competition; whether, before adoption of any of them, they shall be laid before the Visitors of the Museum, the Trustees of the Library, and the Corporation of the City of Dublin; and, whether he has had his attention directed to the suggestions of Mr. Archer, F.E.S., as to the construction of Library, especially that recommending a separate building for the National Library?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHSir, the Treasury are now considering the proposals of the Board of Works and Science and Art Department with regard to the Dublin Science and Art buildings. Without prejudice to the decision of certain details, I can inform the hon. Member that the designs will be open to public competition. It is proposed that the designs should be referred to a Committee; and in appointing any such Committee regard would be had to the due representation of the various interests concerned. I know nothing of Mr. Archer's suggestions; but it is proposed to locate the Library in the present Natural History Museum, which is practically a separate building. This is in accordance with Viscount Sandon's letter of February, 1876, to the Royal Dublin Society, which was based on the recommendations of the then Lord Kildare's Commission of 1868.