Vol. 486 No. 1
525 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the proposed increase in fees at the General Register Office at Joyce House in Lombard Street, Dublin 2 and the concern expressed by the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1397/98]
528 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the proposed increase in fees at the General Register Office at Joyce House, Lombard Street, Dublin 2 and the concern expressed by the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland. [1383/98]
530 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason it is proposed to increase fees at the General Register Office at Joyce House in Lombard Street, Dublin 2; the current rate charged for search fees in the research room there; the proposed increased search fees; the percentage increase that this involved; and if she will make a statement on the consequences of such increases in the area of Irish Genealogical Research. [2272/98]
531 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has visited the General Register Office at Joyce House in Lombard Street, Dublin 2; if she has looked at the current working conditions in the General Register Office; if she has satisfied herself with the condition of many of the indexes there; and the proposals, if any, she has to improve conditions and efficiency of service at the research centre. [2274/98]
532 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish genealogical sources currently available at the General Register Office at Joyce House in Lombard Street, Dublin 2, regarding the search fees for which she proposes to introduce significant increases are available at numerous Mormon libraries throughout the world and may be accessed free of charge; the steps, if any, she will take to ensure that the Irish Genealogical records and Irish heritage are given the necessary support in view of the increased interest in culture and historic heritage among Irish citizens both at home and abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2275/98]
569 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has in relation to increasing search and certificate fees at the General Register Office at Lombard Street, Dublin 2; if his attention has been drawn to the views of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland that these increases would have a damaging effect on the future of Irish genealogy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1553/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 525, 528, 530, 531, 532 and 569 together.
The statutory fees for searches in the indexes of the records of births, deaths and marriages maintained by the General Register Office, fees for certified copies from the records and fees generally in respect of sevices provided by local registrars under the various Registration Acts have not increased since 1987 and are currently being reviewed.
The current statutory fees include a £12 fee for a general search of the indexes to the birth and death records, a £12 fee for a general search of the indexes to the marriages records and a £1.50 fee for a particular search, that is for a particular stated event. Proposals in respect of a new fee structure are being finalised by An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir — Registrar-General — who bears a statutory responsibility for the administration of the system and, at this point in time, I am not in a position to give a definitive answer in relation to the proposed fees. Having regard to the increase in costs of services in the interim, the many developments and changes which have occurred in the services provided and the necessity for each Department and Office to recover a more substantive proportion of the direct cost of providing services, the Deputies will appreciate that a significant increase in the fees is warranted.
I am aware that the Church of Latter Day Saints was granted permission to microfilm some of the indexes to the civil records a number of years ago for particular religious reasons, subject to certain conditions. An t-Árd Chláraitheoir retains the copyright of the material and the church is precluded from making unauthorised copies of the films, or from charging commercial fees for access to information contained in the film of the records. The Deputies may also be aware that An t-Árd Chláraitheoir has given controlled access to a number of heritage centres to local records of births, deaths and marriages to enable them to construct a local genealogical database and develop a service, particularly for persons anxious to trace their Irish ancestry. I understand that the centres also charge fees for their services, including access to their records.
I am advised that representatives of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland had a meeting with the Assistant Registrar-General, at which their concerns were discussed and the need for a review of the fee structure was explained to them. I understand that a number of written observations from genealogical interests are also under consideration.
I am advised that representatives of the genealogical interests have been informed that the current research facilities provided in the General Register Office are currently under review and that there is an ongoing programme for rebinding indexes in need of repair. I am satisfied that an efficient service is being provided in the research room at the General Register Office within the constraints of the present system.
