Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 5

Written Answers. - Genealogical Records.

Seán Barrett

Question:

50 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will support the proposal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland to have microfilm copies of the records of the General Register Office placed in the National Library, National Archives and such regional repositories as may facilitate free public access to these records. [2898/00]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

54 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children his response to the Regional and North-South proposal concerning access to genealogical records; if these proposals will be implemented in co-operation with other Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2935/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 54 together.

The administration of the registration system is a matter for An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir, the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and for local registrars who operate under his general direction.

The Registration of Births and Deaths Acts 1863 to 1996 and the Marriages Acts of 1844 and 1863 provide that an t-Árd Chláraitheoir shall retain certified copies of the records of births, deaths and marriages returned to him on a quarterly basis by local registrars and that he shall compile and make available an index to such records in his office. Persons are entitled to search these indexes on the payment of the approved fees and to obtain certified copies of entries identified from the index. However, this is only one aspect of the services provided at the General Register Office, Joyce House and other services are provided include the issue of authorisations for the late registration of events and the reregistration of births. In addition, an tÁrd Chláraitheoir is concerned with the appointment of registrars and the administration of marriage law.

As the Deputies may be aware, steps are being taken to maintain and improve indexes to the records of births, deaths and marriages including the special project for the capture of the records of births, deaths and marriages and associated indexes in an electronic format which has been ongoing in Roscommon for some time. When this archival records project is completed, it will improve the efficiency, flexibility, access and management of the records and the associated indexes and will provide potential for the development of a range of services, which would not be possible in a system reliant on printed indexes. This project will benefit all customers of the registration service throughout the country including persons who currently avail of the services of the reading room in the General Register Office. Other measures taken to improve service in the General Register Office include the relocation of the public counter on the first floor in Joyce House in July 1999 to provide additional space in the public reading room. Tenders have been sought for the further refurbishment of the General Register Office which will include additional improvements to the environment of the reading room and the improvement of customer services on the second floor of the office. Other issues raised in the council's report are being considered in the context of the review of the service to identify changes necessary to provide a modern and effective service based on the electronic recording of vital events.