Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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250. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if 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 if he will consider this option in order to best capture the most valuable records before they potentially deteriorate in storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35394/14]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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251. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government 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. [35417/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together.

My Department does not employ a qualified archivist to examine records for referral to the National Archives. However, my Department is in the process of providing appropriate training to staff who will undertake archival functions.

In addition, my Department has an agreement with a commercial company for the storage of Departmental records, the costs of which are borne by the Office of Public Works. File delivery and retrieval costs to and from storage are paid for by my Department and amounted to €6,038 and €4,989 for 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Bodies under the aegis of my Department are responsible for the management of their own file storage and National Archive obligations and information in respect of their activities in this area is not available in my Department.