A voluntary scheme designed to raise standards at Ireland's museums was inaugurated today.
The Museum Standards Programme rates museums according to thirty-four agreed minimum standards developed by The Heritage Council to raise levels of professionalism.
Interim accreditation will be awarded to museums that meet twenty-five standards, and the remaining nine standards are full accreditation standards.
Three museums have already achieved full accreditation with a further five having achieved interim accreditation. It is expected that by next year as many as thirty museums will participate in the programme.
Speaking at the launch of the scheme today, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said: "strengthened museum infrastructure in Ireland will be of benefit to the arts, tourism, social inclusion and the overall health and well-being of our communities".
"As many sectors of our population age it will be found that museums will have an important role to play in life-long learning. As communities become increasingly diverse, museums will assist in forging a new sense of place".
The museums that have achieved full accreditation under the programme are the National Gallery of Ireland, Muckross House and the Traditional Farms and Research Centre.
The five museums that have achieved interim accreditation are the National Print Museum , Dublin, Waterford Museum of Treasures, Knock Museum , Monaghan County Museum and Butler Gallery, Kilkenny.