Madam, - Martin Cullen, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, has recently managed to cut more than €5 million from his Department's budget to aid the ailing economy.
Last week it was revealed that works of art in the collection of the Irish Museum of Modern Art have been damaged because of a lack of funds for proper storage facilities. A few months ago there was a similar story concerning the National Museum.
Clearly this is a problem that was not addressed during the days of overflowing budget surpluses. I fear that, with the onset of a recession, the storage problems will not be remedied.
The attitude within the current Government that appointment as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism amounts to a demotion is symptomatic of a lack of regard for the cultural heritage of this country. Perhaps ministers should re-examine such beliefs before any more heritage is lost. - Yours, etc,
KATIE BLACKWOOD, Luby Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8.
Madam, - I refer to your Editorial of August 2nd. When Imma opened some years ago I visited it once and never again. I was so shocked that the magnificent Royal Hospital should have been butchered to house the Museum of Modern Art.
To carve up a section of our 1680s heritage masterpiece and install a glass and steel atrocity was beyond belief.
The crisis that now exists is no surprise. - Yours, etc,
URSULA HOUGH-GORMLEY, Ormond Road, Rathmines, Dublin.6.