Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 3

Written Answers. - Genealogical Service.

Enda Kenny

Question:

135 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the role and responsibilities of the Office of the Chief Herald; her views on the role of the Chief Herald in respect of the recognition of a person (details supplied); her plans, if any, in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16993/00]

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

The position of the Chief Herald has, since 1995, been held by the Director of the National Library. The function of the Chief Herald is to manage the business of the Genealogical Office, which is a branch of the library, and to deal with applications for the grant of arms.

As regards the role of a former Chief Herald in respect of the person referred to in the Deputy's question, the position remains as stated in my written reply to No. 726 to Deputy M. Higgins on 29 September 1999 and in my written reply to the Deputy in No. 346 of 16 November 1999.

Enda Kenny

Question:

136 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the programme of work outlined by her Department in respect of upgrading facilities for genealogical research, with specific reference to the National Library and the National Archives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16994/00]

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

The National Library set up its new genealogical service in mid-1998 and has an ongoing programme of work to extend the range of materials available in the library for the purposes of genealogical research, including a new programme of microfilming of Catholic parish registers. Full details of these initiatives are given in the library's annual reports for 1998 and 1999. The 1999 report will shortly be available in the Library.

In the case of the National Archives it is intended during this year to withdraw the original census returns for 1901 and 1911 from public access and to make microfilms of them available on a self-service basis instead. This will improve the quality of the service to the public, while also safeguarding the original records from further damage through excessive handling. The National Archives policy is to make duplicates of the microfilms available for purchase by county libraries, county genealogical centres and other institutions. Microfilms of the 1901 census returns are already available for purchase, and the microfilms of the 1911 census returns will also shortly be available for all counties. The National Archives office is investigating the feasibility of adding copies of some of the most frequently used records to its website, but this will probably take some time to achieve. An index to wills held in the National Archives was published on CD – ROM by a private company earlier this year.

My Department has no function with regard to the General Register Office, which is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children.