Plans to convert the former Maze prison in County Antrim into a £10m museum, or a "centre for conflict transformation", have not been shelved, said a spokesman for Sinn Féin, the party behind the project.
Press reports had said that first minister Peter Robinson was expected to announce that the project had been abandoned.
But Sinn Féin's spokesman emphasised that "there is an ongoing debate" over the National Assembly's proposals to transform the 360-acre site near Lisburn into a permanent museum that commemorates the Maze's role in the history of the Troubles. A spokeswoman for the first minister declined to comment.
A decision to build a sports stadium on part of the site will be made in the autumn, said a spokeswoman for the assembly's department of culture, arts and leisure.
Meanwhile, the committee for culture, arts and leisure's inquiry into a new museums policy for Northern Ireland is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
A six-week period during which the committee has heard evidence from museum professionals and council representatives ends on 16 October.
Issues to be addressed during the inquiry include the level of investment in museums and the future direction of the museum sector in Northern Ireland.
Ulster Museum in Belfast is set to receive £500,000 from an anonymous donor, which will be spent on building a roof-top gallery for its collections of glassware, pottery and silver. It is part of the £15m refurbishment of the museum, which is scheduled to reopenbnext summer.
Press reports had said that first minister Peter Robinson was expected to announce that the project had been abandoned.
But Sinn Féin's spokesman emphasised that "there is an ongoing debate" over the National Assembly's proposals to transform the 360-acre site near Lisburn into a permanent museum that commemorates the Maze's role in the history of the Troubles. A spokeswoman for the first minister declined to comment.
A decision to build a sports stadium on part of the site will be made in the autumn, said a spokeswoman for the assembly's department of culture, arts and leisure.
Meanwhile, the committee for culture, arts and leisure's inquiry into a new museums policy for Northern Ireland is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
A six-week period during which the committee has heard evidence from museum professionals and council representatives ends on 16 October.
Issues to be addressed during the inquiry include the level of investment in museums and the future direction of the museum sector in Northern Ireland.
Ulster Museum in Belfast is set to receive £500,000 from an anonymous donor, which will be spent on building a roof-top gallery for its collections of glassware, pottery and silver. It is part of the £15m refurbishment of the museum, which is scheduled to reopenbnext summer.