asked the Minister for Finance (a) the reason for the delay in producing bound volumes of the Acts of the Oireachtas of which the latest published is for the year 1975; (b) whether he will arrange for a photographic reprint of the volumes of Acts of the Oireachtas which at present are out of print; and (c) whether he will arrange for the Index to the Statutes to be brought up to date and be published annually.
Written Answers. - Bound Volumes of Acts.
150.
(a) The delay in the publication of the bound volumes of the Acts of the Oireachtas for the years subsequent to 1975 is due to a number of factors, the main one being a shortage of staff in the Translation Section of the Houses of the Oireachtas. As well, the 1976 statutes are exceptionally bulky and may run to three volumes: however, they are now being printed and are expected to be published within the next few months. Due to the delay in the preparation of the 1976 volumes, the volumes for 1977 and 1978 will also be delayed.
(b) The reprinting of out-of-print bound volumes, by photographic methods or otherwise, has been considered. However, as I indicated in my reply to a similar question on 18 October last, it is estimated that the demand for these volumes would be relatively small and the economic price of the volumes would be substantial. In view of this, and the fact that all the statutes in the out-of-print volumes are available in single form, and that full sets of the volumes are available in libraries such as the Law Library, Kings Inn Library and University libraries, it is not considered that republication would be justified.
(c) An annual Index to statutes is published, the latest one being that for 1978. The consolidated "Index to the Statutes" is published at approximately five-yearly intervals. The latest one covers the period to 1975, and includes a supplement for 1976. The updating of this volume is scheduled to commence in 1980. The production of the consolidated Index on an annual basis is not considered justified in view of the existence of the annual Index which can be used in conjunction with the consolidated Index.