Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to review the time limits for the release of materials under the National Archives Act 1986; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23502/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently working on a draft Bill, in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Draftsman, which will reduce the time limit for the release of certain departmental records after 20 years rather than the current 30 years.

The Bill will propose to implement the change on a phased basis starting with the Departments of Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Equality and the Office of the Attorney General.

I expect to bring the Bill to Government in advance of publication very shortly.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff employed by the National Archives per annum in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23503/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The following table outlines the staffing figures for the National Archives since the establishment of my Department in June 2011.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to extend the capacity of the National Archives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23504/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have earmarked €8 million in funding for the first phase in a capital development plan at the National Archives. The OPW has appointed a design team to the project and I expect it to go to tender later this year. This significant capital investment will address many of the long-standing infrastructural issues that face the National Archives.

Thanks to improvements in the economy, I have been in a position to secure additional funding for the National Archives over the past 3 years which has seen current funding increase from €1,105,000 to €1,365,000. This included providing the National Archives with a special allocation of €150,000 for 2016 and 2017 to assist in work being undertaken in association with the Office of Government Chief Information Officer on a public sector records management policy.

I will continue to support the Archives to the greatest extent possible and hope to be in a position to provide additional funding as the Exchequer position continues to improve.