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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 4

Written Answers. - General Register Office.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

132 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason his Department did not allow the National Library to acquire microfilm copies of the ninteenth-century Irish civil registers from the USA-based Church of Latter Day Saints in view of the fact that from 23 May 2000 the General Register Office has had to implement a draconian new policy restricting public access to the GRO indexes because of its inability to attract applicants to fill that office's almost 30 vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16061/00]

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 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 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.

The Deputy will be aware of 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 project will benefit all customers of the registration service throughout the country by improving the efficiency, flexibility, access and management of the 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.

Contrary to the assertion in the Deputy's question there are not 30 vacancies in the staff complement of the General Register Office in Joyce House and efforts are being made to fill such vacancies as exist. The General Register Office has not implemented any policy restricting access to its indexes. The recent improvements to the pub lic reading room were introduced in the interests of the proper management of the office, equality of service to its customers and the protection of its records. The room has been refurbished and extended and new shelving has been installed to prevent accidental damage to the indexes and to minimise the risk of personal injuries while removing and replacing indexes on the shelves.
The Deputy will appreciate the importance of ensuring that a complete and updated copy of the indexes is available for conversion to an electronic format by the above-mentioned project in Roscommon. The copies of the indexes held in the General Register Office are continuously repaired, updated and amended to ensure that applicants are furnished with the correct record. The Deputy will appreciate that any microfilm copies of the indexes as may be available outside the general register office will not include all such amendments. I am not aware of any application by the National Library to An t-Árd Chláraitheoir for permission to obtain microfilm copy of any material held by the Church of Latter Day Saints.
I might also mention, in relation to improvements in the services in the general register office that an additional staff member has been redeployed to the reading room to assist members of the public, particularly visitors from abroad and new users of the service, to answer their questions and provide them with the basic guide to searching indexes for a particular entry. The recent changes have not had any negative impact on access to the indexes, as evidenced by the increase in the number of searches applied for since the system was introduced.
An tArd-Chláraitheoir is aware of the suggestions made by genealogical interests, some of which have been implemented. Other suggestions 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.
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