Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
129. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Minister, who is responsible for the General Register Office, will provide a new facility equal to the current one at the Irish Life Centre Dublin in the interest of providing family historians from both home and abroad with a new facility. [43102/13]
View answer141. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the possible adverse impact on genealogical tourism from the recent move of the Public Records Office to new premises at Werburgh Street, Dublin 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38511/13]
View answer148. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a new facility equal to the current one at the Irish Life Centre in Dublin in the interests of providing family historians from both home and abroad with a new facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43289/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 141 and 148 together.
The research rooms of the General Register Office (GRO) relocated from Irish Life Mall, Abbey Street, Dublin 1 to Werburgh Street, Dublin 2 on Monday 30 September 2013.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the acquisition and maintenance of office accommodation for the Department of Social Protection. Matters of leasing and individual rents are managed by that Office.
The lease on the accommodation in Irish Life Mall ended on 31 August 2013. As part of a cost saving, lease rationalisation programme the OPW decided not to renew the lease.
Officials from OPW, the GRO and the Department identified the building at Werburgh Street as a suitable venue for the relocation of the research rooms. The accommodation is approximately equal in size to the office in Irish Life Mall and has been redecorated to make it suitable as a research room.
Appropriate signage has been erected over the gate at the entrance to the building and the OPW is seeking planning permission to erect on-street signage directing customers to the rooms.
Customers seeking access to records for genealogical purposes can expect the same high level of service at the new facilities in Werburgh Street.
It is not foreseen that the move will have any adverse effect on genealogical tourism.
