Report criticises planning of £30m museum project

The Committee of Public Accounts has expressed concern at "the lack of proper planning and management" in the initial stages of the development of the National Museum's new premises at Collins Barracks in Dublin.

In its third report on value-for-money examinations, the committee said it would like to see the various Government departments place greater emphasis on planning and control for future heritage and restoration projects.

It noted the absence of an overall plan for the £30 million-plus development and said there was an "inordinate" delay in developing the exhibition design.

The committee also questioned the accuracy of the costing of some elements of the project. For instance, the external treatment of approximately 15,000 square metres of buildings was expected to cost £1.5 million. However, as £2.1 million had been spent on treating just 6,900 square metres, it said the final figure would be a multiple of the estimate.

In relation to staffing, the committee said the management services unit of the Department of Finance had recommended the creation of 97 new posts, in addition to the 74 staff already employed. However, it noted that at the time of examination "only a small number of temporary posts had been obtained". It added that the Department of Arts, Heritage, the Gaeltacht and the Islands had been "left short of what had been identified by the Department of Finance as being the real requirements of the museum if it were to be fully and properly staffed".

The museum's opening in September was marred by a dispute between the Department of the Arts and the union IMPACT over pay and promotions.

The report contained two other value-for-money examinations: on the provision of second-level school accommodation and the procurement practices of universities.