Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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285. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if it is the practice of her 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 she will consider this option in order to best capture the most valuable records before they potentially deteriorate in storage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35389/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has detailed procedures in place concerning the examination and transfer of paper records that have permanent value from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to the National Archives, in accordance with the National Archives Act, 1986 and Regulations, 1988 which have been circulated to all staff members. All line divisions within my Department are required to examine the records relevant to their areas of responsibility and arrange for the transfer of records to the National Archives as appropriate.I am confident in the abilities of the Department's staff and the staff of the National Archives of Ireland to carry out their functions in this matter. It is not the practice of my Department to employ an archivist and I am advised that the current approach secures the preservation of records which warrant preservation as archives and ensures that appropriate arrangements are made for public access to archives.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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286. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total cost to her Department and agencies under the aegis for the storage of records and archives that are ultimately intended to be forwarded to the National Archives in time; if she will provide this cost for 2012 and 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35411/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by my Department that it is not possible to identify what proportion of its records held in storage will ultimately be transferred to the National Archives. An initial examination at the beginning of each year is conducted to establish if any records are due for transfer to the National Archives by identifying the records that will be 30 years old or more on 31st December of that year. As the Deputy will be aware, there are certain limited circumstances where records that are more than 30 years old may be retained by a Department or withheld from public inspection. I am advised that the cost to my Department in 2012 and 2013 of off-site storage of records was €111,451 and €116,393 respectively. With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, the Deputy will appreciate that the matters raised are part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question. I am arranging, therefore, for the terms of the Deputy’s Question to be transmitted to the heads of relevant bodies with a request that they provide information, to the extent feasible, directly to the Deputy.