Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too have concerns that what we do should have an eye to the medium and long term rather than the immediate environment in which we find ourselves. What concerns me greatly is that the major focus of attention here is on cost-cutting and efficiency. While I do not have a difficulty with looking to achieve a more efficient service for people who use our cultural institutions, I am very concerned that what is done should be compatible with each of the institutions concerned. Some of what each of the institutions does as a core function is not completely compatible with the other institutions. There are real opportunities here if we can look at the governance of these institutions in the first instance and how the philanthropic side can be given an advantage. I welcome the fact that the National Archives and the National Library are not being combined. As an example, the Public Record Office in Belfast was to move from the Lisburn Road to the Titanic Quarter and was due to close for eight months. In that case, however, it was planned to resource those who might want to check records while the buildings were closed and a huge effort was made to digitise records. Not only was a fantastic new building opened in the Titanic Quarter, but it has the advantage of having all of the material digitised so that the service is much better both for those using the building and for those who do not have to use it because they can get the records online.

I wonder whether the Minister shares my concerns that, by looking only at the issue of efficiency, we are losing an opportunity to plan for the medium and longer term with regard to investing in our institutions. While I realise money is tight, some of this brings a return even in the short term. I cannot understand why there is not a user-based approach to the institutions and why it is exclusively, or almost exclusively, looking at saving money and efficiencies.

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