Mark Ward
Ceist:5. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Taoiseach the reasoning for the 100-year rule for releasing census data; and if it has been considered to reduce the 100-year rule for genealogy purposes. [37651/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMonday, 11 September 2023
Ceisteanna (5)
Freagraí scríofa
The Censuses of Population carried out between 1926 and 1991 were undertaken under the 1926 Statistics Act which did not permit access to Census records at any time. The Statistics Act, 1993 repealed the 1926 Statistics Act and the 1946 Statistics (Amendment) Act, and provided for the release of census forms from these censuses 100 years after the date of the relevant Census.
When the 100 years access was debated in the Oireachtas the view was expressed that this time period should be reduced to 75, or even 50 years. However, while the retrospective introduction of the 100 years exemption was seen by some as undermining the original guarantee given to householders, it was generally accepted that 100 years was a reasonable compromise given that relatively few people would still be alive after 100 years.
I am satisfied that the 100 year period provided for in the Statistics Act 1993 strikes the right balance between facilitating legitimate historical and genealogical research on the one hand, while protecting the confidentiality of census data and maintaining the integrity of the guarantees the CSO makes to the public regarding the privacy of the information provided on census forms.