asked the Taoiseach the present position regarding the provision of (1) temporary accommodation for the National Archives and (2) permanent headquarters for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Archives.
3.
Premises have been obtained at 58-64 Upper Dominick Street, Dublin 1, to meet the accommodation needs for the National Archives on a temporary basis.
A scheme for a purpose-built, permanent headquarters for the National Archives at a State-owned site at Smithfield was investigated some years ago. In more recent times, the possibility of adapting an existing building, including one located at the Custom House Docks Site, to serve as a permanent repository for the National Archives, was also evaluated. A final decision on the matter will be made in the light of experience of the use of the Dominick Street premises and in the light of the availability of financial resources.
I fully appreciate that our archival heritage must be safeguarded and the provison of suitable accommodation is the key factor in that regard. I will ensure that my Department and the Office of Public Works monitor those needs closely so as to anticipate and alleviate any difficulties.
I welcome the statement by the Taoiseach about the availability of temporary premises and the plans being made for permanent premises. Can the Taoiseach say when the temporary premises will be capable of taking in files which are ready for deposit there?
More or less straight away. I will keep the Deputy informed.
4.
asked the Taoiseach the progress which has been made on the preparation of documents in his Department to be deposited in the Natinal Archives; the portion of the relevant material which has now been examined and could now be placed in the National Archives; the number of staff engaged on this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am very pleased to be able to report that considerable progress has been made in my Department on the preparation of documents which will be deposited in the National Archives.
As the Deputy is aware, Cabinet minutes and supporting files have been transferred over the past ten years from my Department to the State Paper Office where public access is permitted to them. The papers transferred already relate to the period up to 1954. It is estimated that other files still held in my Department and dating from the inception of the State up to the late fifties number approximately 9,500. In exccess of 8,000 of those files have been examined already. About a further 1,500 files from that period remain to be examined. The process of examining the latter files will be completed before the end of this year. I will ensure that this material is transferred to the State Paper Office as soon as interim archival accommodation is available. I expect that this will happen before the end of the year.
One person is engaged wholetime on a contract basis on the examination and evaluation of files and he is assisted, as need arises, by the three members of staff attached to the Registry of my Department. I fully appreciate that completion of this work will facilitate access to the primary source material regarding the factors which have shaped the history of modern Ireland.
In view of the long wait for this legislation and these facilities, I greatly welcome the statement and the advances being made in the Department of the Taoiseach and in the Department of Finance where I learned from a question yesterday that 20,000 files are already prepared for deposit there. Is the Taoiseach aware that little or no progress has been made in some of his Departments and that some of them seem only to have the slightest acquaintance with the legislation? Will the Taoiseach take steps to ensure that they are brought into line with his own Department and the Department of Finance?
I will see what can be done.