§ MR. DAWSONasked the Vice President of the Council, What is the present position of the proposed Science and Art Museum for Ireland as regards the new buildings; what provision is being made for the National Library; to what body the designs for the new buildings will be submitted for final adjudication; and whether such body will report upon the technical skill, competency, and experience of the person to be intrusted with a public work of such magnitude and importance; and, whether such plans as are selected will be laid before the Municipal Council of Dublin before being finally adopted?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH (for the VICE PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL) saidThe architect for the Dublin Museum is being selected by a public competition, divided into two stages. In the first sketch designs only were required, and 67 such were sent in. Five of these were selected by a Committee appointed for the purpose, and their authors were invited to furnish detailed designs and estimates for the final competition, for which they will receive £150 each. These detailed designs must be sent in before the 1st of May next. The Committee of Selection will report to the Treasury upon these five designs, and the author of one of them will be selected by the Government as architect. The National Library will be placed in the present Natural History Museum. It is not considered necessary to lay the plans before the Municipal Council of Dublin, as I may remind the hon. Member that the Museum is intended to be a national one, and not solely for the bene- 1141 fit of Dublin; the Corporation of Dublin is, however, represented on the Committee of Selection. I may take this opportunity of expressing the thanks of the Government to that Committee for the manner in which they have discharged the important duty intrusted to them.