Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the Central Bank and the credit unions, the Deputy is aware that the Central Bank regulates the credit unions as an independent regulator, without interference from the Minister for Finance and his Department. The Government regards the work of credit unions and the services they offer as a fundamental issue for our country and society in general. The credit unions are well respected by ordinary people. Obviously, some changes have been made due to certain instances that arose. The Central Bank will make its recommendations and the Minister will oblige. He will deal with that in the next couple of weeks.

The Deputy mentioned two national cultural institutions Bills. I do not have a date for them but I expect they are due to be dealt with in the first half of next year. Regarding the current issue, the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, was able to stabilise and increase funding in both 2015 and 2016 for the national cultural institutions. They have had some difficult years. She provided €2 million in once-off funding in the 2015 Estimates for the cultural institutions and €600,000 of that was allocated to the National Library. Additional money has been secured for 2016. I expect the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to deal with that matter and the Deputy's question about the quality of the accommodation, the storage and so forth for the historical documents in the short period ahead.

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