merrion street

Mr. Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) was delighted to announce today (1 November 2013) the location of Ireland’s new Exploration Station: National Interactive Science Centre. The new centre will be developed by Irish Children’s Museum Limited (ICML) and will be housed in State-owned premises in the Earlsfort Terrace complex, beside the National Concert Hall.

Minister Hayes said, “I’m delighted to announce that my office, the Office of Public Works will shortly commence the upgrading of a section of the Earlsfort Terrace complex so that following the works, it will become home to the new Exploration Station: National Interactive Science Centre. This is wonderful news for children and science alike; I’m certain that when this exciting new centre opens it will inspire a passion for discovery about science, technology and innovation”.

The confirmation of Earlsfort Terrace as the location for the Exploration Station: National Interactive Science Centre follows on from an earlier agreement to provide the centre in a new building near Heuston Station. This plan could not proceed in light of the budgetary situation and developments in the property market. The Earlsfort Terrace buildings involved will be upgraded by the Office of Public Works over the next 36 months to bring them to the required standard from the point of view of universal accessibility, health and safety, mechanical and electrical services. The building will then be made available to ICML under a renewable lease to accommodate the Exploration Station: National Interactive Science Centre.

-Ends-

For further information or if you wish to interview Minister Hayes please contact

Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer at 046 942 6128, 087 947 5552 or colette.davis@opw.ie

Note to Editors:

Irish Children’s Museum Limited (ICML) trading as Exploration Station (ES) is a private company with charitable status, whose principal aim is the establishment and operation of an interactive science centre for children. The buildings earmarked in the Earlsfort Terrace complex will be upgraded by the Office of Public Works over the next 36 months.

There are positive impacts attached to the provision of a first class National Interactive ScienceCentre particularly in light of Government’s commitment to encourage interest in science amongst the young.

The centre has strong potential to contribute to education provision generally. ICML has stressed that Exploration Station is specifically geared to fit with primary and secondary school curricula with a view to engaging students in science, technology and innovation and thereby increase the numbers of graduates in those fields to meet future employment needs in the technology sectors. In the medium to long term, realisation of the facility will serve to meet Government aims in relation to the promotion of science generally and science education, particularly amongst first and second level students.