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National Library

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 November 2012

Thursday, 8 November 2012

Questions (222)

Peter Mathews

Question:

222. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans (details supplied) regarding the National Library. [49345/12]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that, as part of a range of reforms recently agreed by Government under the Public Service Reform Plan, it was decided that the existing National Archives of Ireland (NAI) governance model will be applied to the National Library of Ireland (NLI) and the National Museum of Ireland (NMI). The National Archives Advisory Council will be retained, with a reduced membership operating pro bono. A single statutory NLI and NMI Advisory Council will operate pro bono in place of the existing boards. Board membership will be reduced overall by some 60%. It is anticipated that this model will achieve significant savings and increase efficiencies across the institutions. The NAI will continue to operate, as currently, with a statutorily independent Director, and a similar governance model will be put in place for the Directors of the NLI and NMI. A robust shared services model will be deployed - through my Department in relation to corporate support services and by formal inter-institutional agreement in relation to operational services.

It is my intention to make clear statutory provision for the independent status of the Director of the NLI and the Director of the NMI. Issues such as the status of staff (whether as civil or public servants) and related administrative matters will be pursued at the appropriate time with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the institutions and relevant staff associations/unions.

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