Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The principal National Archive storage accommodation is located at the headquarters offices at Bishop Street and the Four Courts. It is acknowledged that the National Archives suffer from a long-standing storage challenge on a constrained site. While efforts have been made to accommodate the State records within its Bishop Street premises, the accommodation currently available is unsatisfactory. Under the current economic circumstances, the planned major capital investment to redevelop the entire Bishop Street facility for the National Archives, involving the subsequent closure of its Four Courts storage, is not affordable.

Storage difficulties in the National Archives have been approached from two perspectives. At the instigation of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the OPW has agreed to produce a short to medium-term solution to the storage and accommodation needs of the archive within the Bishop Street complex. The OPW will prepare proposals and has provided off-site storage for some series of records. In addition, the OPW has indicated it will move certain Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food records still in use, mainly relating to the Land Commission, out of Bishop Street and this will free up space for the National Archives proper. The administrative staffing of the National Archives, which was admittedly relatively small, has been strengthened by the Department in recent times.

The other matter raised by Deputy Kenny is an interesting point. I will ask the director if anything can be done to assess the location of manuscripts that are relevant to our archival heritage and to see if there are ways they can be repatriated and whether there are ownership issues or issues regarding their continued safekeeping. I will ask whether there is anything we can do to supplement the current owners' care for the documents.

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