The Department of Finance has agreed in principle to develop a new building for the National Archives, the repository for State documents and historical files, after a four-year delay.
The Minister responsible for the National Archives, Ms Sile de Valera, warned the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, earlier this year that the failure to update the unsuitable accommodation in Dublin would become a source of "acute political embarrassment to the Government", according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act.
The National Archives building at Bishop Street, Dublin, was originally to be refurbished within a budget of £13 million following proposals by the OPW in 1997.
However, a feasibility study by a design team in 1999 suggested the Bishop Street site be fully developed, with a new four-storey building, extra office space and enhanced storage facilities at an estimated cost of almost £45.5 million.
A decision on the development, however, was put on hold pending Government discussions on the decentralisation of the Civil Service, which might have an impact on the State's use of office space.
Last year, Ms de Valera reached agreement with Mr McCreevy that the decentralisation plans would not affect the National Archives and the development of the site could proceed, subject to official clearance by his Department.
However, the Department of Arts again wrote to the Department of Finance in July 2000, saying it was a "cause of concern" that despite the agreement given by Mr McCreevy to proceed with this "long overdue" project, its implementation had again been delayed.
Ms de Valera wrote to Mr McCreevy on January 12th this year, urging him to give his approval, which she said had been "given the go-ahead" several months previously, and calling for "immediate decisions".
She told the Minister for Finance that at that stage the National Archives could be held to be in dereliction of its statutory obligation under the National Archives Act 1986 to provide acceptable storage for public records.
On May 24th last, the Department of Finance wrote to the OPW to say the Minister had agreed to pursue the development of the site to its full potential, subject to the exploration of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach.
Work is now at an early stage to explore the potential of the Bishop Street site. Once the development begins, the National Archives will be moved to temporary accommodation.
It is understood archivists employed by the National Archives, along with the design architects, will visit the British Museum and other facilities, to ensure the best design for the new building.