Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chair and Senator Warfield. I will provide an overview on reimagining the National Library of Ireland, NLI, capital development project under the national development plan as the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, cannot be with us today.

On completion the project will be the most significant investment in the National Library of Ireland since the main building on Kildare Street opened in 1890. To date, significant progress has been made on the NLI redevelopment project with the completion of the following elements so far. First, a new book repository opened in June of 2019 in the NLI's 1827 wing with state-of-the-art safety features. The repository effectively safeguards a substantial proportion of the national published collections bringing them from poor conditions into modern safe storage. The repository comprises 4,700 linear m of state-of-the-art storage with fire suppression installation and a system for early smoke detection.

Second, a new prints and drawing store was refurbished and fitted out in 2019. The NLI has more than 100,000 prints and drawings created by hundreds of artists and engravers. They are a fascinating visual record of Ireland from the 17th century to today. The collection includes individual prints, albums, original drawings, watercolours, architectural drawings, portraits and typographical works. The prints and drawings store is environmentally controlled and has been fitted with large dedicated storage cabinets suitable for storing this important collection.

Third, in 2023, a newly restored art room opened following the conversion of the large art book room from storage to a space for use as a visual collections reading room and reception space for communications and development activity. Despite the disruption of the pandemic to this development the space is now fitted with new lighting, CCTV, access control, automatic light-controlling blinds, and new bookshelves. The hardwood flooring was refinished and the room fully redecorated with furniture to make the space more suitable for the new intended uses.

Fourth, a new manuscript reading room can now be accessed by researchers via the interconnected NLI office building. It is accessible with a newly installed shared WC and high-performance vacuum glazing units, which significantly improve sound and thermal insulation. There are new power and data outlets as well as LED lighting. The desk lighting was designed and built in Ireland and incorporates 3D- printed bespoke parts in addition to traditional brass craftsmanship, acoustic insulation hanging on the walls to improve the acoustic properties of the room, and the ceiling lighting has been renewed with LED fittings along with new CCTV.

Next to the initial phase in the NLI redevelopment also involves a complete decant of the west wing and an audit of collections with 350,000 items stored in Victorian book stacks that were there since the building opened in the 19th century. There were no environmental controls and no fire measures whatsoever as well as open Victorian drains. All of the contents of the west wing have now been moved out and stacks and shelving have been removed as part of the initial phase of redevelopment. Following the decant of the west wing opening up works and surveys commenced to determine in greater detail the condition of the building including the roof, windows and structure. Soil investigation established the ground and boundary conditions to inform the design process for the proposed extension. Non-original partitions and fittings were removed and new fire separation works were installed to ensure adequate fire safety separation between the planned construction area and the rest of the NLI main building, which continues to operate in public services.

Upgrading measures have been undertaken, including the provision of secondary window glazing, to contribute to thermal and acoustic insulation providing an enhanced working environment. This and other measures have contributed to NLI having reduced its energy usage by the end of 2022 by over 52% compared to 2009. A new lecture theatre is currently under development and near completion. This ground floor facility will replace the pre-existing seminar room. Members will have been disappointed that the new lecture room was not available for the commemoration of the award of the Nobel Prize to William Butler Yeats who was a Member of this House. I understand that the OPW working with NLI will ensure that this facility will be available in 2024.

Finally, the NLI is currently going through the planning process for other elements of the library redevelopment and like many other capital projects construction inflation has increased the cost above the €23 million funding allocation provided for investing in our culture language and heritage. This is incorporated in the library's preliminary business case for further redevelopment presented to the Department recently. Additional costs will be subject of discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in the new year.