Vol. 402 No. 5
4 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach the financial support which will be made available to the Chester Beatty Library and Gallery of Oriental Art, Dublin for (a) the current year and (b) 1991; the purposes which have been specified for these funds; the conditions, if any, which have been attached; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
5 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if, as promised, he has received the finalised proposals of the trustees of the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin 4, to the consultants' report; the action he proposes to take on foot of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
A provision of £220,000 has been made in 1990 towards the salaries and running costs of the Chester Beatty Library. It is subject to the usual requirements regarding the furnishing of accounts to my Department and control over staff numbers and remuneration.
A particular condition is that early arrangements be made to advertise and fill the post of director. The provision for 1991 is at present under consideration.
Discussions have been held by my Department with the trustees on the development of the Library. The proposals set out in the consultants' report were reviewed and progress can be regarded as follows: Finance: The budgetary system has been revised; a bookkeeper engaged and quarterly management accounts prepared; Staffing; the Western Curator will take up duty this month; Trustees: The trustees accept that fixed-term appointments as trustees are desirable, apart from the three statutory appointments by the President, Taoiseach and ex officio Director of the National Library; Premises: the residential quarter vacated by the former director is being adapted for public and official use; and Stocktaking: a systematic work programme has been prepared.
I am pleased with the substantial progress which has been made by the trustees in relation to the management and development of the Library. A number of other issues, for example, capital development works, sponsorship and Sunday opening remain to be discussed in detail but will be the subject of further consultations between officials of my Department and the trustees.
I thank the Taoiseach for the information he has given me and, to the extent that progress has been made, I welcome such in respect of the Chester Beatty Library. Has the Taoiseach received any indication when the post of new director will be advertised and filled? Would the Taoiseach agree that it is something that should be in place and if at all possible dealt with in advance of the ensuing cultural year in 1991?
I am not sure of the exact timescale. The Deputy can take it that we will get on with it as quickly as possible. We have been clarifying the job specification for the post, laying emphasis on management functions as well as the academic side. I can assure the Deputy we will have it in place as soon as possible.
With regard to the trustees can the Taoiseach say whether a position has been accepted in regard to an upper age limit, which is very important? Again with regard to the trustees can the Taoiseach say whether his Department have the right and opportunity to appoint an additional nominee to serve on the board of trustees as was recommended in the consultants' report?
The Deputy is going into a lot of detail that would warrant separate questions.
The trustees accept that fixed-term appointments are desirable with the exception of the three ex-officios. The other aspects of that are being discussed at present.
So the matter of the upper age limit will be pursued?
Yes.
Can the Taoiseach say whether the stocktaking to which he referred in his reply will result in a comprehensive published inventory of all of the contents of the Library being made available? If that is not proposed may I request him to take that suggestion on board and recommend it to the relevant people.
My information is that all of these matters — as the Deputy will know — are the subject of ongoing discussions. My information is that a systematic work programme has been prepared, presumably with the objective the Deputy has in mind, but I will make sure that is conveyed to the trustees.
