John Bruton
Question:38 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will report on the progress of the Irish Genealogical Project. [15469/97]
Written Answers - Irish Genealogical Project.
The Irish Genealogical Project has been supported by the Department of the Taoiseach since it evolved from the work of the Task Force on Roots Genealogy and Tourism in 1988.
The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for the Irish Genealogical Project has recently been transferred from the Department of the Taoiseach to my Department.
The report on a value for money examination of the Irish Genealogical Project prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General and laid before the Oireachtas in April last highlights several difficulties, including the need to fix clear targets for the completion by local centres of the database, the periodic assessment of progress relative to those targets, the need to progress the establishment of a central signposting index and the need to develop a marketing plan for the project. Following the transfer of responsibility my Department will be examining how these deficiencies can best be addressed by Irish Genealogy Ltd.