Under the National Archives Act, the Department is obliged to retain and preserve all records, which are created and held in the Department, unless disposal of any such records is authorised by the National Archives. These requirements have been communicated to all managers who are reminded, on an annual basis of the ongoing needs in this regard as records come up for examination for release to the National Archive. Arrangements have been made for the secure storage, including for retention purposes, of electronic records. Records held on personal computers are covered by the instructions to staff already mentioned, and appropriate procedures are implemented for the storage and back-up of records held on central IS systems, including full and regular back-up of data, on-line storage in another data centre and storage of back-up tapes off-site in a separate location.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, my Department has published on its website a guide to the functions and records of the Department which includes details of the classes of records held by my Department and how they are held.
