Collectively, these additional funds will help to preserve and safeguard the collections held by the recipients, and assist in the further improvement of the services offered to visitors.

Funded projects include the upgrade of fire, and environmental control, IT upgrades and upgrades to exhibitions.

The specific grants awarded are:

Archbishop Marsh's Library – €60,000 for a state-of-the-art fire suppression system to ensure continued protection of the collection;
National Museum of Ireland - €270,000 for works including the acquisition of exhibition cases;
National Gallery of Ireland - €365,000 towards general upgrades and the renewal of office equipment;
National Concert Hall – almost €200,000 for works including a wayfinding system and IT upgrades;
The Irish Museum of Modern Art - €132,000 for IT upgrades;
The Hunt Museum, Limerick - €30,000 for an environmental control system.

Speaking today, Heather Humphreys, TD, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said

"I am pleased to be in a position to provide further funding to a number of our cultural bodies for 2017. This funding is provided to protect the collections they hold, provide a safe environment, up to date services and improved display for visitors. It will also assist with the modernisation of these bodies to offer a service worthy of Ireland's cultural offering.”

These grants are being provided through the Cultural Infrastructure and Development funding mechanism.

The Minister continued:

“This comes in the wake of my announcement of additional funding for all National Cultural Institutions in Budget 2018. Separately, I also announced an additional €90 million in capital investment between 2018 and 2021, which will benefit these institutions in particular, supporting their vital work and development. This funding marks a 50% increase in my budget for that period.

“I will be making a further announcement on the longer-term 10 year capital plan shortly. Investment in our National Cultural Institutions will, once again, be a priority in this funding.

“I launched the Creative Ireland programme last year to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation. Part of this involves supporting our National Cultural Institutions in preparing ambitious but realistic investment plans, building on the progress already underway, to address infrastructure deficiencies in a planned and measured way.

“These announcements of additional funding for some of our cultural bodies, including our National Cultural Institutions, in 2017 and 2018 are another signal of this Government’s commitment to continued investment in arts, culture and creativity under the auspices of the Creative Ireland programme.”