Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - Census Returns.

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The National Archives does not intend to have the 1911 census returns bound in the same manner as the 1901 census returns and is not aware of any returns having been stolen due to their being in loose-leaf form. The 1901 census returns were bound in the 1970s. This seemed desirable at the time, but the manner in which they were bound would now be considered inappropriate as a means of ensuring their long-term preservation.

The 1911 census returns are being microfilmed, and it is expected that all counties will have been filmed before the end of the year 2000. Members of the public wishing to inspect the returns will then be required to use microfilm copies rather than the original returns. This will allow members of the public to have self-service access to copies of the films in the National Archives, and will enable local libraries to acquire copies of the films for consultation in locations outside Dublin, as well as meeting the requirement for security of the original material.