Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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605. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff employed in his Department's Archive Unit in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; his plans to expand this number; if there are protocol changes arising from changes to the National Archive Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19609/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In my Department matters relating to the National Archive Act are dealt with in the Data Protection Unit which was established in October 2015. Prior to this date the National Archives work was dealt with within the Freedom of Information (FoI) Unit. The staff of that Unit also dealt with others matters including FoI, Departmental presence at agricultural shows/events, data protection and access to information on the environment.

The following tables outline the staffing complement in these Units for the dates in question.

As regards changes to the National Archives Act, I understand the Deputy may be referring to the National Archives (Amendment) Bill which was referenced in the recently published legislative programme for the current session. I note the heads of the Amendment Bill are expected shortly and consideration will be given in time to any measures arising from this process.

Data Protection Unit

October 2015

FOI Unit

2010 to September 2015