Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the public service reform plan published by the Government on 17 November 2011 outlined a series of rationalisation measures and some of those measures related to a certain number of the bodies funded from my Department's Vote group. In this regard, my Department conducted a critical examination of the structure and operation of the institutions included in the public service reform plan and developed a comprehensive and practical approach to the implementation of the various Government decisions in this area, which was endorsed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. A progress report on the implementation of these measures was recently submitted to and approved by Government. Summary documents outlining the main outcomes of this examination with regard to the relevant bodies and institutions have been published on my Department's website at . As is clear from those documents, it is not proposed to go ahead with the merger of the National Library and the National Archives.

I am sure the Deputy will agree that the National Archives is working well. It is headed by a statutorily independent director, is advised by an advisory council that serves pro bono, and has proved successful at raising funds and sponsorship from private sources to further its work. The Government, on the recommendation of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has recognised that the model is working well.

In response to a freedom of information request, the IMPACT report referred to by the Deputy has been released. I will arrange for a copy to be sent to the Deputy.

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