asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the plans he has for the development of a network of family history services throughout Ireland in order to ensure that Irish records of births, deaths, gravestone inscriptions and records of land holdings are used fully by modern information technology to make information on ancestry available to people throughout the world.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Family History Services Network.
1.
As part of the Government's programme to expand the tourism industry, I identified better genealogical services as an important element in that programme. For that purpose I established in 1988 the Task Force on Roots, Genealogy and Tourism to advise on and arrange for better and more co-ordinated genealogical services throughout the country.
The task force which consisted of all relevant bodies and is chaired by an officer of my Department has now considered in detail the various aspects of the provision of improved genealogical services in Ireland. As a result, a central consultancy service on roots tracing was provided in the Genealogical Office in 1989 to direct Irish people and visitors to the most appropriate sources of information on tracing their ancestors. This service has been highly successful as measured by the public use made of it.
The task force is now preparing detailed proposals for the development of a network of genealogical centres using a computerised database of genealogical records. It will involve many groups and organisations both in the public and private sectors. When the exact requirements, including costs, are identified precise plans will be formulated for the development and promotion of the improved and expanded national genealogical service.