IMPACT has written to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, following reports and media coverage that the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) was considering the introduction of admission fees for visitors to the galleries and museums of the NMI.

Management was also considering the closure of some of its facilities from January 2015 as the NMI Board disclosed they will need an increase in funding of €650,000 to continue operating next year. IMPACT represents most of the staff at the NMI, including professional, technical and front of house staff.

IMPACT national secretary Matt Staunton criticised the proposals and said other cost saving initiatives should be considered, including the abolition of the NMI board and taking the NMI functions back within the department. Matt highlighted international experience that charging admission into cultural institutions causes a 40% drop in visitor number in year one alone, causing major tourism and national recovery implications.

The NMI is made up of four museums: the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History on Dublin’s Merrion Street; the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology on Kildare Street; the Decorative Arts and History museum at Collins Barracks; and the Country Life museum in Co Mayo.

Matt told Minister Humphreys that abolishing the board and moving the agency’s function back into the relevant department would allow available resources to be used much more effectively. “This would also create the potential to improve existing levels of service without any need to consider admission fees for a service that plays a vital role in tourism and education.” Matt said that imposing admission fees would be a shortsighted and damaging measure. “The museums and galleries are a priceless national resource should remain open to everyone” he said.

Matt added that the number of front of house staff has reduced by 40% since 2008. “This has happened while the same agency’s over-graded and unnecessary management team has been maintained, which makes little sense” he said.

In an email to staff last week, NMI director Raghnall Ó Floinn confirmed the board had met to discuss “difficult options” facing the museum but said no decisions had been taken. Staff only became aware of the proposals after they had been reported in the media.