§ MR. SEXTON, asked the Secretary to the Treasury, What space was allotted 115 in the programme issued on 5th September 1881 for guidance of architects competing for the building of the New Central Museum in Dublin, and whether the space so allotted in such programme has been altered contrary to the terms of the original programme; if so, what alteration has been made, and whether such space so allotted is greater than that occupied by the present Royal Irish Academy Museum; and, if it be not greater, whether the Treasury, when preparing the programme, had received any, and what, information that the present buildings of the Royal Irish Academy were adequate for the present and future requirements of the institution.
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, I think some words have been omitted in the hon. Member's Question; but I will answer it so far as I can understand it. The total floor space in the new Museum was fixed at 100,000 square feet; this was the figure recommended by the Science and Art Department, and adopted in the advertisements for the preliminary competition. No alteration was made in this respect in the final competition. One quarter of the whole space, or 25,000 square feet, was allotted to the Art Collections, including those of the Royal Irish Academy. This also was recommended by the Science and Art Department, and has been adhered to throughout. The Treasury accepted both the total amount of space and its general distribution on the responsibility of the Science and Art Department; and we are assured by them that there can be no difficulty in appropriating a sufficient amount of space for the valuable collections of the Royal Irish Academy.