The National Museum of Ireland needs a major overhaul of its collection management policy, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General has advised.
In his report, published today, John Purcell said there was an urgent need to improve the safeguarding of the collections and to devise policies covering acquisitions and disposals.
He said the museum also needs to provide better access to the collections and to modernise the its management system.
The report estimated that there are almost four million objects in the national collections, of which around 1.5 million have been sourced from archaeological excavations.
Of the 911,000 objects which lend themselves to being recorded in detail, only 30 per cent are electronically recorded at present.
The report said the museum does not have a formal collections management policy and this has contributed to ever expanding collections, "a situation which has been exacerbated by the rate of growth of material coming into the Museum's care from archaeological excavations in recent years".
"While improvements have been made in recent times, the examination noted that many artefacts continue to be stored in poor conditions," it added. "Storage conditions are a concern in view of the heritage value of the material."
The museum's 38-hour weekly opening time was deemed relatively low when compared with other museums, nationally and internationally.
The museum is due to be given €30 million in funding under the National Development Plan 2007-2013.
The report suggested the museum needed to finalise a strategy statement and develop comprehensive acquisition, de-accessioning and exhibitions policies if this money is to used to optimal effect.
Labour's arts spokeswoman Mary Upton said the report should act as a wake up call to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Séamus Brennan and his department.
"This report identities several serious issues facing the management of the National Museum. These are not irreparable so long as the minister acts swiftly to address the main findings of this report," she said.
