Mr. Seán Ó Súilleabháin:

I agree with Mr. Merrigan that we need an overall plan to avoid duplication of our efforts. There have been cases of duplication, although fortunately not to any great extent. Deputy Tuffy asked about the use of schemes. We have gotten as far as we have largely through the use of schemes and we have participated in all the new schemes, such as Tús and the rural social schemes. The judicious use of schemes allows us to achieve a considerable amount. Certain work is done abroad, somewhat unfortunately given that we would prefer to have it done here. Cost is a factor in such decisions because it can be much cheaper to have the work done abroad. Many things are desirable, including the issue of the images to which Mr. Mullen referred, but the priority should be completing of church and civil records for the entire 32 counties. It would be lovely to see the images - and that will probably happen anyway - but the records are not complete for a number of counties. There are also two separate sites, with the Irish Family History Foundation covering the larger part of the country. It should be a priority to make all of these critical records accessible from one site.