Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
189. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on those controls within his Department for the management of data and files on all records relating to departmental and Government decisions; the changes introduced in 2011 to ensure the completeness of such records; and if the systems now in place are to be audited on a regular basis to ensure they are working. [3663/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy question my Department has a comprehensive set of guidelines in place in relation to record management within the Department. Following a recent internal audit process the guidelines were reissued to all staff members in March 2013 to insure that all members of staff were brought up to date with the file management procedures in operation within the Department. The procedures outline to staff what records should be kept on official files, how to register official files on the Departments file management system and how to manage files that are in current use within their section. It also advises staff on how to manage e-mailed correspondence.
Each Division within the Department has been assigned specific file series which they use to register official files on the Department file tracking system and it is the responsibility of each Division within the Department to ensure that Departmental decisions and Government decisions effecting the work of the Department are recorded on the appropriate official file to ensure that any following up action to be taken on foot of such decisions is available for future reference.
