There are no immediate plans to make the 8 million or so former Irish land Commission (ILC) records generally available to the public for research purposes or otherwise, as they are still working documents. My officials regularly access these records to service queries from the public relating to current and past transactions and for the full completion of the work of the former ILC. Owners and purchasers of land and their personal or legal representatives are allowed access to and copies of relevant documents/maps. Since 2008, over 14,300 search and retrieval cases have been completed by the seven full time staff currently based at the Records Storage facility in Portlaoise. There are no statistics available relating to whether the requests were granted in part or in full. The office does not provide a research facility, as the provision of such a service would require much greater resources than those currently available.
My Department is mindful of the public interest in obtaining access to the vast repository of former ILC documents held. However wider access will be a matter for consideration when the completion of the work of the former ILC is at a more advanced stage. Furthermore the records which are available in paper format only are fragile, some dating back as far as the early 1800's and are an irreplaceable resource should they get damaged. In order to maintain them, it is essential that they are handled and stored appropriately. Opening up access to these files cannot be considered until appropriate measures are undertaken to minimise potential damage from routine handling.
In these circumstances, discussions with other Departments or State Bodies on general public availability of the documents have not arisen. However, the Department is in discussions with Trinity College Dublin with a view to cooperating in its research project “Beyond 2022”. The project seeks to create a virtual archive, recreating records that were destroyed in the fire in the Public Record Office of Ireland at the Four Courts in 1922. Relevant records have been identified in the ILC.
Under the Freedom of Information Acts, any individual is entitled to view personal data, or third party data held by this Department, subject to the restrictions laid out in those Acts.
