Up to €22 million is to be invested in redeveloping Ireland's National Archives.

Preparations are now underway at the National Archives premises in Bishop Street, Dublin to create a new facility which will ensure ensure that archives are stored in a fit for purpose buildingm wuth the potential to develop and construct additional storage as required in the coming years.

This first element of the project will entail the transfer of some 95,000 archival boxes off-site to ensure their continued preservation and to eliminate any risk of damage through being retained in direct proximity to the construction works.

Overall, the upgrading of the current warehouse adjacent to the National Archives building into an Archive Repository is the first step towards a comprehensive renewal of the National Archives. Future plans will see the development of education and outreach facilities in addition to ensuring the public record is preserved and made available either directly in the Reading Room or online via the National Archives website.

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While the preparatory works for the new facility will continue over the coming months, it is expected that the process to identify contractors will commence in 2019, with works to start later that year.

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, said: "As we approach the 100th anniversary of the destruction of the Public Records Office at the Four Courts, it is right that we invest now in developing a state of the art facility for protecting our national archives for future generations. The redeveloped Archives will be open well ahead of the anniversary of that destructive moment."

John McDonough, Director of the National Archives, said: "This is an exciting and challenging time for the National Archives as we prepare for substantial construction works later in 2019. We require this time to prepare materials for transport from Bishop Street, to facilitate the commencement of this significant project to provide appropriate storage and ensure that we can continue to fulfil our duty and obligation in preserving and making available the public record."

"We hope our readers understand the need to temporarily restrict our services and that we are doing so to work towards a better service for all."

(LM)