Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of State papers, older than 30 years, that have not been released as a result of exceptions to the 30 year rule in his Department and any agency under his remit; if he will provide a breakdown by year for his Department and any agency under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1693/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established in June 2011. I am advised that no records held by my Department that became 30 years old on 31 December 2011 or 31 December 2012 have been withheld from public inspection.

With regard to bodies/agencies under the auspices of my Department, four such bodies are specifically named in the schedule to the National Archives Act 1986 - the National Archives, the National Archives Advisory Council, the National Library of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland. However, there is no requirement at present for such bodies to transfer records to the National Archives and make them available for public inspection. Accordingly, the issue of records being withheld by these bodies does not arise.