Vol. 535 No. 1
489 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the fact that visitors and others have difficulties in accessing genealogical records; and if there are any plans to improve access especially for overseas visitors. [12352/01]
I should first point out that my Department has no function with regard to records of births, marriages and deaths held by the General Register Office, which are normally regarded as the primary genealogical source records. These records fall within the remit of the Minister for Health and Children.
Within the remit of my Department there are records and other material useful to genealogical researchers in the National Library and the National Archives. In the case of the National Library, the material is readily available to readers at the Library's reading rooms. The Library has been endeavouring to expand the range of records and materials available for research purposes and has included useful guidance on the subject on its website: www.nli.ie. A separate genealogy service is available to personal callers to the Library giving them an opportunity to discuss their family history research with a professional genealogist or experienced staff member.
In the case of the National Archives, the records used most heavily by genealogists include copies of the Census returns of 1901 and 1911, the Tithe Applotment Books and valuation records of the 19th century, and copies of wills dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. Access to the records is relatively easy for members of the public visiting Dublin as the National Archives reading room is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Most of the more important genealogical sources held in the National Archives, including the Census returns of 1901 and 1911, are now available on microfilm. Duplicates of these microfilms are available for purchase by county libraries, county genealogical centres and other institutions in order to facilitate access to the records by researchers who are based outside Dublin or are not in a position to visit the National Archives. Most of the microfilms are also available to researchers living overseas through the genealogical libraries of the Genealogical Society of Utah.
The website of the National Archives, www.nationalarchives.ie, already includes a considerable amount of information of interest to genealogists. The National Archives is investigating the feasibility of adding copies of some of the most frequently used records to the website, but this will probably take several years to achieve. An Index to Wills in the National Archives was published by Eneclann on CD-ROM in 2000.
