Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of persons who visited or used the military archives, and the visitor centre respectively, in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin in 2011; if he is satisfied with the current opening times: his views on whether these educational resources could be better advertised, and if he will consider facilitating weekend opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29314/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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There were on average twenty one members of the public visiting the Archives per week in 2011. The Archive also received on average sixty phone calls and thirty five letters and emails per week in 2011. Following the launch of the website www.militaryarchives.ie in December 2011 the average number of emails has more than doubled while there has been a 30-40% increase in phone calls. The average number of visitors per week has also increased to twenty seven. In addition to the use by the public there are on average 35 written queries per week from military personnel. It is expected that the coming twelve months will see a further increase in the workload of the Archive staff as 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the Irish Volunteers. The current workload also includes the transfer and cataloguing of collections from various military sources along with answering queries from the public and military users.

Members of the public may arrange access to the archives by a system of prior appointment. This is necessary due to limitations on available space. In order to make an appointment, interested members of the public should contact the Officer-in-Charge, Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin 6 at telephone number (01) 8046457. These contact details are also available on the Defence Forces website at www.militaryarchives.ie

The Visitor Centre which is located in Cathal Brugha Barracks was opened in May 2011. The Centre is dedicated to the memory of Francis Sheehy Skeffington, Thomas Dickson and Patrick McIntyre, newspaper editors and pacifists, who were arrested by the British Forces and executed without trial in the guardroom exercise yard on April 26th 1916. The Centre is currently open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday. In relation to opening hours at both the Archives and the Visitor Centre, it is felt that week end opening could not be facilitated without compromising the quality of service currently being offered.