Details of the plan were unveiled by Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD at a special forum attended by an Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD.

The Culture and Creativity Capital Investment Plan is part of Project 2040. It includes an investment of €23 million in the National Library’s iconic buildings on Kildare Street over a 10-year period, as part of a phased programme entitled “Re-imagining the National Library”.

The major building redevelopment programme for the NLI is already underway, and it will ensure high quality, safe storage for the national collections, as well as universally accessible public spaces – exhibition galleries, a new lecture theatre, café and shop, and a public lift to all floors – in the main library building on Kildare Street.

Speaking after the announcement today, Director of the National Library of Ireland, Dr Sandra Collins said: “The National Library of Ireland’s buildings have been at the heart of Irish cultural life since 1890.

“The commitment of €23 million is a once-in-a-hundred-year investment in our cultural heritage, which will enable us to re-imagine our storage and public spaces, and to safeguard and share the national collections with new generations of visitors and researchers.

“The ten-year commitment is hugely welcome because it allows us to plan for the future. Culture and creativity are an essential part of the Irish story, and we are delighted to see the role of the National Library and all the cultural institutions recognised through their inclusion in Project 2040.”