John Bruton
Question:8 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if the Task Force on Roots, Genealogy and Tourism have completed their proposals for the development of genealogical centres throughout Ireland using the latest information technology.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Genealogy Project.
Proposals are now complete for the development of the Irish Genealogical Project. The project will essentially involve putting genealogical information on computers in a significant number of local centres largely on a county basis and throughout Ireland both North and South. It will also involve providing a genealogical service to people of Irish extraction abroad and to Irish people at home. This service will be marketed internationally and here in Ireland as a fully comprehensive service because it will have all the relevant records on computer access.
The proposals I referred to have just recently been approved in principle by the International Fund for Ireland, which has already generously earmarked £500,000 for the first phase of this important all-Ireland project. Work will, accordingly, commence very shortly on the computerisation of the local genealogical centres. This will include, inter alia, forming a computer users group so that all centres will be involved in the process.
Mr. Bruton
In contrast to the last supplementary questions, may I say I welcome this progress on the part of the International Fund for Ireland and the Government in this matter. Could the Taoiseach put a date on when this service will be fully operational?
No, it is beginning straightaway and will be coming on stream very quickly. As Deputy Bruton will be glad to hear, the centre in Meath will be included in the computer users' group.
I too welcome the announcement by the Taoiseach. May I avail of this opportunity to pay credit to the International Fund for Ireland on their efforts in this field, as in so many others. Has it come to the notice of the Taoiseach that, in the northern part of this island in recent years, there has been greatly increased interest on the part of both sections of the community in finding out more about their common roots, which has been a great unifying factor particularly at local level? May I ask the Taoiseach in this regard whether he recognises the efforts of an organisation in County Tyrone, in the town of Dungannon, known as "Irish World", who have been making a great contribution? I hope that in the file in front of the Taoiseach there is reference to that organisation and the good work they have been doing.
Yes.