Shay Brennan Challenges €70–100m Children's Science Centre Plan
Shay Brennan questioned the Minister over the OPW's plan to proceed with a €70–100 million National Children's Science Centre despite an existing science centre nearby. Brennan said Explorium, a proven, larger and fully operational science centre about 10 kilometres from the proposed site, had repeatedly offered to collaborate but received little engagement from the OPW and Irish Children's Museum Limited.
Inquiry on project duplication
Brennan raised concerns that the OPW is pressing ahead with a new National Children's Science Centre while Explorium operates a comparable facility only 10 kilometres from the proposed site. He asked how the OPW can justify such a major public spend when a nearby, functioning science centre already exists.
Explorium's offers to collaborate
According to Brennan, Explorium has repeatedly offered to collaborate with both Irish Children's Museum Limited and the OPW. He said those offers have met a persistent lack of engagement from the relevant bodies, prompting questions about duplication and value for money.
Committee procedural response
The Minister responded that the topic was not on the agenda for that session and noted that topics must be flagged beforehand. The exchange included discussion about whether further details could be provided by officials in another forum.
Private-session option and next steps
Committee members discussed moving into a private session so officials could speak directly about the project. Brennan and others agreed that officials could address the questions in private session if the Minister and the committee proceed with that arrangement.
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Minister, the OPW seems to now be pressing ahead with a 70 to 100 million euro National Children's Science Centre, despite the existence of a newer duplicate facility in Sandiford, which is just 10 kilometres away from the proposed centre's new site, or sorry, the site of the new proposed centre. Now, Explorium, which I'm sure you're familiar with, is a world-class fully operational science centre, which has repeatedly offered to collaborate with both the Irish Children's Museum Limited and the OPW. Yet, Explorium's promoters have faced a persistent lack of engagement from both parties, raising serious questions about duplication, about value for money and about the stewardship of public funds. So, Minister, I'd ask you, how can the OPW justify proceeding with a 70 million euro project when a proven, larger and highly successful science centre already exists nearby and is actively sought to collaborate? Deputy, that's not on the topics of today. So, when topics need to be flagged beforehand, and if there's topics that he can maybe come back with the details, if that's okay? Sure. I mean, it's unlikely. I mean, it's such a major spend on a major project, and it's unlikely between the seven of you there you don't have some details on it. I understand that, and we can have a situation whereby the officials can speak to us in private session as well, but we would have to move into private session at that point when the Minister is there, the officials can speak to us directly. So, I can't proceed with this line of questioning? We can if we agree to go into private session, if you'd prefer that as part of your time. That's fine, we can do that. So, we can do that, so? Is that okay?
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