Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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562. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended that the former Land Commission maintained by his Department should be made publicly available for genealogical research purposes by the State; if he recognises the genealogical value of the register as part of a holistic approach to genealogical research that the Government could champion; if he has had any discussions with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5053/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are no plans at present to make the records of the former Irish Land Commission generally available to the public 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 Land Commission. Limited access to these records may be made available following application to the Legal Services Division of my Department but access is subject to the restrictions for inspection and delivery of these documents laid down in the Land Purchase Acts Rules and in the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts. Given these circumstances discussions with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on general public availability of the documents has not arisen.