Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way his Department disposes of redundant information technology equipment; if he is satisfied that all stored information has been removed prior to disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32344/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department is conscious of both its security and environmental responsibilities when organising the disposal of old information technology equipment.

When a PC is no longer fit for purpose in the Department, the hard drive is wiped using software acquired for this purpose. It overwrites the hard drive multiple times with random patterns thereby eliminating any trace of the original hard drive contents.

Following erasure, PCs are sent to Camara, an Irish charity, who provide a recycling certificate for the equipment. Camara use software to wipe the contents of the hard drive a second time. They then install a new operating system and ship the PC for re-use in schools and colleges in Africa.

Peripheral PC equipment such as printers is disposed of through one of the certified recycling companies.