asked the Minister for Education if he will state (a) the number of paintings in the possession of the National Gallery; (b) how many of these paintings are on public display; (c) how many are in storage and the location of storage; (d) how many are on loan and to whom; (e) what insurance cover there is in respect of the paintings on display in the National Gallery; (f) what insurance cover there is in respect of the paintings in storage; (g) what insurance cover there is in respect of the paintings on loan; (h) what steps the National Gallery have taken to loan paintings to suitable galleries in the provinces; and (i) how many applications are on hand from responsible provincial groups for loans of paintings from the National Gallery.

The answers to the queries are as follows:

(a) Number of works of art in the National Gallery: 5,184.

(b) Number of works of art on display: 932.

(c) Number of works of art in storage: 4,109

(d) Number of works of art on loan:

(e) and (f): The National Gallery carries its own insurance.

(g) The State carries its own insurance iu respect of works on loan to it.

(h) The National Gallery has agreed to make a loan of paintings to Provincial Galleries on condition that suitable arrangements are made as to location, security, care and insurance.

(i) Number of applications on hand for loans of paintings: 2.