Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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13. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the cost-benefit analysis to maximise the use of the Bishop Street premises of the National Archives is complete; if he will share the findings of the analysis; when he expects to make a decision on expanding the capacity of the Bishop Street premises; the timeframe that is envisaged for the expansion; if a new exhibition space will form part of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18047/14]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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A cost-benefit analysis is being carried out on the National Archives in Bishop Street to maximise the use of the space there. Clearly, the space is very deficient. I am trying to find out whether it is expected that a decision will be made on it soon.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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It has been widely accepted for a number of years that the National Archives headquarters at Bishop Street require to be developed to enhance the standard and the quantity of facilities for storage of State archives and future provision. Each year for some years past, special measures had to be taken to accommodate the annual statutory transfer of State records. The building has insufficient linear shelving space in which to store records in an accessible manner and, consequently, is not being used to maximum economic advantage or optimum efficiency. Cognisant of the agreed need for additional space at the National Archives, my Department had requested that the OPW prepare a development plan for the Bishop Street premises. A plan was prepared accordingly for the phased delivery of the necessary works in the National Archives headquarters warehouse. The plan concluded that the construction of a two-storey facility within the existing building will provide an efficient and economically viable solution to the storage needs of the National Archives. A formal cost-benefit analysis in respect of the proposed development was completed in October 2013. It determined that, as the project more than met the Government’s rate of return, which is 5%, the result of the analysis is positive.

My Department is continuing to make progress on this project with the OPW and other stakeholders in the context of the decade of commemorations.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Has the Minister any idea when work is likely to commence given that it is justified and that the National Archives has statutory responsibility to manage its records? Is it planned to include exhibition space? Is the Minister considering the problematic staffing level in the National Archives? He told me previously that 70,000 boxes of records have not been catalogued at this stage. There is a lot of work to be done. The timeline and the exhibition space are the key issues.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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This was part of the memorandum presented to the Government recently. In the context of the decade of commemorations, I made a special request in that memorandum concerning the National Archives. There is broad Government support for the proposal. I have to return to the Government in two months with revised proposals but I certainly hope this will be one of the top priorities.

I acknowledge that the Deputy has a special interest in this matter, as do I having used the National Archives in the past. I hope the project will proceed in the context of the decade of commemorations but it will have to be agreed by the Government first. The OPW has carried out extensive investigations into the provision. I hope that if money can be provided, the project will proceed very rapidly. I hope it will be regarded as one of the projects associated with the commemoration in 2016 of the Easter Rising in 1916.