asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General for 1988 which showed that cataloguing of books, periodicals and magazines in the National Library was at least two years behind; that no stocktaking on a regular systematic basis has been carried out in the library since 1974; if, in view of the importance of the documents in the possession of the National Library, it is intended to provide additional staff and resources to allow this work to be brought up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Library Cataloguing.
2.
The additional staff resources now being made available to the National Library, essentially through the redeployment of staff from elsewhere in the public service and with the agreement of the unions, will enable cataloguing and stocktaking to be speeded up. The new director proposes to assign some of the additional staff to priority needs in cataloguing and stocktaking. It is also proposed in future, in accordance with standard practices in other such libraries, to close the library annually to the public for one month to enable all staff resources to be devoted to stocktaking.
Will the Taoiseach agree that it is close to, if not a national scandal, that our premier library should be so far out of date and behind with its cataloguing? Will he further agree that it is not a satisfactory solution to close the National Library for one month on an annual basis simply to facilitate work that should be kept up to date? How long does the Taoiseach anticipate it will be necessary to engage in the practice of closing for one month? Which month is it envisaged closing the library?
It is the practice in all major libraries to close for one month for stocktaking.
Will the Taoiseach indicate what month the library will be closed as there is a clear suspicion that it will be used as a device to facilitate holidays, which would be a great pity in view of the tourist and other advantages that the National Library present?
That is a most unworthy solution.
Will the Taoiseach dispel my suspicions with more information?
Let us try to avoid repetition.
What month of the year is it envisaged that the library will close?
I am sorry that the Deputy does not understand the position. He seems to suggest that closing for cataloguing in the National Library would be a detrimental step. I assure him that major libraries do this as a matter of course.
A final question, Deputy McCartan.
Will the Taoiseach indicate the numbers of staff that will be allocated for the purposes of redeployment? Will he agree that this House has taken up substantial time to debate the issue of staffing in the National Library in the context of merely policing and stewarding reading in the library? Will he also agree that the issue of cataloguing was not paramount until the publication of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General which highlights how appalling——
I want to dissuade the Deputy from the notion that we can debate this matter now.
Long before the Deputy adverted to this matter the new director of the National Library had it very much in hand.