HC Deb 07 August 1884 vol 292 cc114-5
MR. DEASY (for Mr. PARNELL)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of the National interests involved in the question of the Science and Art Museum and National Library in Dublin, and in consideration of the fact that sixteen years have passed away since the first hopes were held out of their being established, he can state definitely when the design is likely to be decided upon, and when the building will be commenced?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this Question. Yes, Sir. The Science and Art Museum and National Library in Dublin will be commenced at once; but the delay which has taken place since last year has been, in my opinion, unavoidable. The facts are simply these. Competition was invited for designs for a new Museum, to be erected at a cost not exceeding £110,000. The Consultative Committee recommended a design by Messrs. Deane; but when the cost of this came to be worked out it was found to amount to £140,000. It then became necessary to ascertain whether any other design came within the prescribed limits as to cost. The Consultative Committee recommended a second and a third as admissible; but the cost of these has been estimated, and we have to-day learned that each of them would be slightly in excess of £140,000. We are thus reduced to the position of abandoning the designs altogether, or of consenting to accept Messrs. Deane's design, with a possibility of effecting some economies in its details; and although we cannot but deplore the excess above the limit in which the competitors indulged, it has been determined to accept Messrs. Deane's design.

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

asked how much the Consultative Committee calculated for contingencies?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

I cannot say.

MR. MACARTNEY

asked whether the plan of Messrs. Deane had been accepted in toto?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

said, he had stated that it was accepted subject to the possibility of effecting economies in its details.

MR. DEASY

was understood to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that at a conference between the architect of Messrs. Deane and the architect to the Treasury it was represented that the cost of the design could be reduced without impairing the architectural details?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

said, that he had no information on that point.