The National Library has a staff complement of 57.
The library is funded by my Department from various sub-heads and also from moneys allocated to my Department from the national lottery. The level of Exchequer funding for the library in 1991 is £1,388,000 and this money is used to pay the running costs of the library including £220,000 for the purchase of books and manuscripts and for conservation.
In addition, the Office of Public Works are currently undertaking major construction works in the National Library and it is estimated that over £400,000 will be spent by them during 1991.
The library is open six days a week, including three late-night openings and Saturday morning. It is not intended to extend the opening hours of the library from their present level in the foreseeable future because of the considerable extra cost involved. I am satisfied that, within the level of resources available at this time of constraint on the public finances, the National Library is providing an excellent service to the public. The present opening hours were arrived at following a survey of the requirements of the library's readers over a period of months and are considered to be the most equitable arrangements possible under present conditions of financial restraint.