18 October 2006
NEW HOME FOR NORTHERN IRELAND'S OLD RECORDS
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is set to get a new home in Belfast in an investment of £22 million.
The Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Maria Eagle MP, announced today that the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) would be advertising shortly for expressions of interest from developers to provide a site, and building for the new offices.
Announcing this multi-million pound investment to provide state-of-the-art facilities in which to house Northern Ireland's historical records, the Minister said: "This investment is evidence of Government's commitment to delivering improvements in Northern Ireland's cultural infrastructure.
"It is recognition of the unique cultural assets that PRONI holds - the documented community memory of Northern Ireland - and their value to society."
The Minister said that since the opening of the existing premises in the early 1970s approximately half-a-million people had consulted PRONI's records and many of these had come from abroad.
"Larger and better facilities will enable much better public access to the records and will allow PRONI to encourage wider community involvement. I see the new Public Record Office as a place to engage all sections of the community in a wider awareness and ownership of their archival heritage," Minister Eagle said.
The Minister went on to say that the existing premises were outdated and run-down and no longer fit for the purpose intended. Due to an increased demand for specialist public record storage space PRONI would not be in a position to meet its statutory obligations for the storage and safeguarding of public records.
Referring to the recently launched policy, 'Architecture and the Built Environment for Northern Ireland', Ms Eagle said: "The new Public Record Office should be a worthy architectural embodiment of a modern cultural institution that is sustainable and life-enhancing for the whole population.
"The new building should be part of the built legacy we leave for future generations, one that they will be proud of and wish to cherish," she added.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
PRONI was established under the Public Records Act (NI) 1923 for the reception and preservation of public records. The 1923 Act also made provision for the deposit of private records in PRONI.
The current records in PRONI extend to 54 kilometres, and growing. They cover every aspect of life from the Minutes of Cabinet Meetings to records of a local corner shop - from the thoughts and actions of the 'great and the good' to the reminiscences of the working man. The oldest document is a 13th Century Papal Bull.
The timescale for new record office is to have the preferred bidder identified by summer 2007 and the building ready for occupancy by summer 2010.
Media enquiries to Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office, tel: 028 9025 8901 or email: press.office@dcalni.gov.uk
CAPTION FOR PHOTOGRAPH
Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Maria Eagle MP, and Dr Gerry Slater, Director, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) examine pre- 1900 workhouse records, which form part of the 54km of records held at the PRONI premises in Balmoral Avenue, Belfast.
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