'All options being considered' on proposed €70m children's science museum

Official did not answer multiple questions as to whether the State could take the financial hit of walking away from the project

A visualisation of the proposed but as yet unrealised national children’s science centre. Picture: 3ddesignbureau.com

One of the country’s most senior civil servants has said that “all options are being considered” with regard to possibly walking away from the proposed €70m children’s science museum in Dublin.

David Moloney, secretary general of the Department of Public Expenditure, acknowledged that no resolution has been found for the situation, which sees the State saddled with a legal obligation to build the museum, despite no department being willing to do so and no source of funding having been identified.

Responsibility for the museum project lies with the Office of Public Works, which first committed to developing the building 23 years ago — a commitment the consortium behind the project, Irish Children’s Museum Limited, has continued to hold the State to.

The OPW has been legally obligated to construct the building since 2013 after losing out via an arbitration process with ICML, a decision which was ratified through a second arbitration process in 2022.

No sponsoring body has been found to pay for the project, with opponents of the build at the National Concert Hall site in central Dublin noting that a private children’s science museum has already been in place in south Dublin since 2019.

Addressing the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, Mr Moloney — whose department is the parent body for the OPW — did not directly answer numerous questions as to whether the State could take the financial hit of walking away from the project.

He said that “lots of ideas have been considered, all options are being considered”. Mr Moloney said he agreed that the State faces “a choice” as to whether to build the museum or breach its obligations.

“To achieve that there would have to be a sponsoring department,” he said. Asked what department could be expected to take on the task, he said several could be appropriate, including the departments of Higher Education and Children.

“There have been numerous attempts made to find an answer to this issue,” he said of the project, whose budget has spiralled from its initial estimate of €14m in 2003 to its current level of €70m.

OPW representative Conor Sreenan acknowledged that it continues to work towards offering construction of the museum to tender before the end of this year, as it is legally obliged to do. “I understand this is frustrating. I’m trying to manage the obligation,” Mr Sreenan told the committee.

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Asked by Fianna Fáil’s Paul McAuliffe if there is a clear strategy to manage the situation given no progress appears to have been made with regards to the project since the OPW appeared before the PAC last February, Mr Moloney replied: “There is a very large bill, and value-for-money considerations.

“It is not a lack of engagement, but it is a very legalistic process,” he said.  “The next steps need management.” 

Asked by Mr McAuliffe if resolving the situation is “a priority” for his department, Mr Moloney said: “We have sought to, but the options explored have not been acceptable to the project’s promoters.”