Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to the National Archives to preserve the records of psychiatric hospitals as highlighted in a recent television programme (details supplied); if these archives will receive statutory protection; if all archives for each hospital have been investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25047/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The allocation of funding for the National Archives is a matter for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The maintenance and preservation of records held by hospitals is a matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the Executive to investigate the issue raised by the Deputy and to reply directly to her.

Under the National Archives Act, 1986 records held by my Department must be preserved, unless their disposal is authorised in writing by the National Archives of Ireland.