Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is what the public service records management project is about. We will give directions to public bodies to reduce their spending on offsite records storage and we will produce a framework by which public service bodies can implement electronic systems. The long-term plan is to develop the public service's records management capacity, especially as regards electronic records, and the capability of the National Archives to assess and preserve digital records.

As we all know, we have come through difficult times in the economy. Resources have been tight and people have had to prioritise. The situation is improving, though. The unemployment figure is down to 6.6% and more money is coming into the Exchequer. Therefore, it is time to put a stronger focus on this. There needs to be clarity regarding electronic records. At a personal level, people put photographs on discs, for example, and are not as careful as they should be. Sometimes, it is hard to beat a paper copy. We must focus on this matter more and I will raise the issue with the other Departments.