Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - General Register Office.

Liz McManus

Question:

249 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has received from the Genealogical Society of Ireland for improvements to the General Register Office; his views on these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2978/00]

John Perry

Question:

291 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the short opening hours, understaffing and the overcrowded conditions at the General Register Office; the plans, if any, he has to upgrade and change the archival network in view of a growing interest in ancestors from students of courses in genealogy, members of genealogy societies and emigrants seeking family information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3191/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 291 together.

The administration of the registration system is a matter for an tArd-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, 1844 and 1863, provide that An tArd-Chláraitheoir shall retain certified copes 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 at 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 the other services which are provided include the issue of authorisations for the late registration of events and the reregistration of births. In addition, An tArd-Chláraitheoir is concerned with the appointment of registrars and the administration of marriage law.

The proposals from the Genealogical Society of Ireland would entail the transfer of microfilmed copies of indexes to the registers of births, deaths and marriages and microfilmed copies of the records over 70 years old to the National Library, the National Archives and nominated regional centres.

As indicated in my reply of 3 February to a question in relation to services in the General Register Office, additional space was provided in the public reading room in Joyce House in July 1999, which resolved the difficulties in relation to overcrowding. 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. The Deputies will also be aware that 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. This is a major project which will improve the efficiency, flexibility, access to and management of the archival records and the associated indexes. It will also provide potential for the development of a range of services, which would not be possible in a system reliant on printed indexes. This project, when completed, 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. There is also an ongoing review on the registration service, including its structure, procedures and legislation to identify changes necessary to provide a modern and effective service based on the electronic recording of vital events.