Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2017
445. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the 1926 census figures will be made available for the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12178/17]
View answerCurrent legislative provisions, as contained in the Statistics Act 1993, require that census data must be withheld for 100 years. Accordingly, it is not possible at this time to release 1926 Census returns before the statutory period has elapsed in 2026. If the records were to be released before the expiry of 100 years, a major change in legislation and policy would be required to allow for such an early release. This is not currently being proposed.
