Vol. 110 No. 16
I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £70,050 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1949, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Institutions of Science and Art, for certain Miscellaneous Educational and Cultural Services, the Centenary Commemoration of Thomas Davis and the Young Ireland Movement, and sundry Grants-in-Aid.
Before that Vote is put, I would like to ask the Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the token Vote in the Estimate for Public Works and Buildings for the provision of a new national library, and whether he can say if any steps have been taken with regard to the provision of a site which has been in question for a new national library. If he has not had an opportunity of going into this matter would he be prepared to give us some assurance that this very urgent question of an entirely new provision, or an additional provision, for the national library will be gone into? It is a very important matter.
No steps have been taken in the matter. If the Deputy likes he can put me down a question. I cannot imagine any steps being taken during the current year. I cannot say that I have heard very much about the proposal or that I had heard any more about it than the Deputy has mentioned now. As far as I can understand, changing the National Library from its present position would be a very, very big undertaking. I have not considered it. No steps have been taken and I cannot imagine it being considered or any steps taken with regard to it in the current year.
I would like to say that a decision has been taken with regard to negotiating for a site. It is a matter, of course, with which the Office of Public Works would deal. It is quite possible that it has not been brought to the Minister's attention. I think you can take it, however, that the Board of Works, as far as I know and I think I am speaking correctly, have been asked to examine this matter with a view to opening negotiations for the acquisition of a site.
Perhaps the Deputy would put down a question to the Minister for Finance.
