Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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126. To ask the Minister for Defence whether it is the practice of his Department to employ an archivist to examine records and archives once records are deemed appropriate for archiving to determine the quality of the records, the importance, the estimated care and attention needed to preserve the records and so on; if not, whether he will consider this option to best capture the most valuable records before they potentially deteriorate in storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35392/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Military archivists are assigned to Military Archives which has the role of acquiring, preserving and making available to the public, the documentary heritage of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence. The Military Archives also provides advice and other services to the Defence Organisation, assisting in the administration and management of its records. From as early as 1924, the Defence Forces undertook to preserve historical documents from that time and since 1990 the Military Archives has been the official place of deposit for such material, including that of the Army Pensions Board, under the terms of the National Archives Act, 1986. In addition, associated with the Military Archives is the Military Service Pensions Collection (MSPC) which is a cornerstone of the Government’s Centenary Programme. Civilian archivists have been employed by the Department of Defence to process the Collection which contains approximately 300,000 files relating to the period from Easter Week 1916, through the War of Independence and Civil War.

Military Archives is located at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin and a building project is currently underway which will ensure that these important archives will continue to be stored and preserved in the best possible manner.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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127. To ask the Minister for Defence to set out the total cost of his Department and those under the aegis for the storage of records and archives that are ultimately intended to be forwarded to the National Archives in time; if he will provide this cost for 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35415/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Military Archives is the place of deposit for the archives of the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Army Pensions Board under the terms of the National Archives Act 1986. The total cost for the storage of Departmental records and archives that are ultimately intended to be forwarded to the Military Archives is set out in the following table:-