The Natural History Museum in Dublin will remain closed until well into the 2030s, according to an update from the Office of Public Works (OPW). Substantial construction works are not expected to begin until late 2029 or early 2030.

Over €3.6 million has already been spent on the project. This includes €2 million on removal of artefacts and historic cases, transport, packaging, storage, conservation, art handling, and project management. A further €1.6 million went to investigative works and design team fees.

Sinn Féin TD John Brady, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, expressed disappointment at the timeline and raised concerns about spending without a final budget in place. He noted the facility has been closed for more than two years.

Brady pointed out that the museum was previously closed from July 2007 to April 2010 after a section of a staircase collapsed. At that time, a €15 million refurbishment was planned but shelved, with localised works carried out for €500,000 instead.

He questioned whether current design work duplicates efforts from almost two decades ago and asked how much was spent on the original design. Brady also raised the possibility of temporarily displaying exhibits elsewhere within the OPW estate, noting the estate includes a significant percentage of vacant properties.

The OPW has not provided a final budget for the redevelopment project. Brady said he will seek further details on previous planned work, spending to date, and a breakdown of the timeline.