€11.5 million to deliver ‘Children’s Experience’ in Waterford, but running costs could be an issue 

In 2024, the development of a new children’s experience was announced for Waterford.

It is being developed at the former men’s hostel at 18 Lady Lane and is designed to be a visitor experience for young people..

It will cost €11.5 million to develop, however running costs will be a "big issue".

The experience 

“It’s a children’s experience, not a children’s museum”, Chief Executive of Waterford Council, Sean McKeown said last week.

“It’s important to mention that, because there is a national initiative to establish a children’s museum, however this is a children’s experience."

Mr. McKeown said that the project has been well developed over the past number of years, and that the €11.5 million estimation to deliver the experience is through benefactor funds, with a small contribution required from the Council.

“We’re currently in discussions with the benefactor, who has made a very generous offer” he said.

Running costs

Mr. McKeown said running costs will be “the big issue.” 

“We are already subventing the museums we do have to the tune of about €600,000 a year on average, so we certainly don’t want to be adding to that.

“The benefactor has made a very generous offer in relation to subventing the operational costs of this experience when it is established.” 

(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)