Billy Timmins
Question:60 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the number of staff who work in the military archives section at Cathal Brugha Barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/06]
View answerTuesday, 9 May 2006
Questions (12)
Oral answers (7 contributions)
The military authorities advise that the staff strength of the military archives is three, comprising a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer and a private. Two further commissioned officers serving at the military archives retired recently and approval has been granted for their replacement. The military authorities advise me that a strength of five, including suitably qualified replacements for the two retired officers, is sufficient to meet the current demands on the archives. I appreciate the importance of returning to five full-time staff in the section without delay.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he agree a staff of three is insufficient? Approval has been given to employ two additional people but the number of requests received by the archives section has increased dramatically in recent years — approximately 200 queries are received every week. In addition, there is only enough space for five staff in the section in Cathal Brugha Barracks. Will the Minister give a commitment to increase the number of staff and to consider the relocation of the archives? The recent 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising was very successful. I would like the Minister to pick a project during his last year in the job——
I will have a bigger job then.
Is the Minister not happy with his current job? I am sorry to hear that.
I am very happy, but one can always do more.
Will the Minister consider taking on the extension of the military archives as a project? I do not know if he has visited the centre but the few staff involved do an excellent job. Many families are donating valuable collections and the staff are doing the best they can with limited resources. Despite what the military authorities might have told the Minister, the staff are struggling. Will he give a commitment to improve the service?
The supplementary question asked by the Deputy about relocation is the subject of Question No. 65, which we will deal with later.
I agree that a staff of three is inadequate. The view of the Chief of Staff, who is responsible for the section, is that a staff of five is necessary. Two people retired last October and I have given the authority the go-ahead to have them replaced. Sometimes if the authorities need to fill one of these vacancies, they regard it as necessary to have them trained and the new staff must undertake a course lasting between six and nine months in UCD. I have expressed my concern to the Chief of Staff regarding what might happen in the meantime and I have asked him to consider the possibility of bringing in people from the private sector, as happened previously, to meet any temporary hiatus in this section. I have expressed my views forcefully on this matter to the Chief of Staff and I will do so again later this week. In the meantime, I am committed to hiring the two additional staff but people may have to be brought in from the private sector if demand is such that they are required.