Mr. Brian Donovan:

Deputy Joanna Tuffy raised the question in the previous session. One of the best placed organisations to reply to it is the Irish Family History Foundation. I noticed, however, that the deputation was somewhat reticent in its response. Perhaps I can give the committee some ideas which are a little clearer. It is very difficult to bring in untrained young inexperienced people and involve them in transcribing historical records. It requires a certain degree of expertise to be able to do this. I am not necessarily referring to university based expertise and have no wish to try to remove it and place it out of the reach of everyone. A great deal of training is required. Most heritage centres put a major effort into training people to do the work. I am keen to ensure we do not end up making the mistake where, it could be argued, we could potentially turn heritage centres into training institutions. In fact, what they are supposed to be doing is delivering a genealogical product. Their purpose is to try to generate something. However, if we were to turn them into training institutions, they would become derailed from what they were supposed to be doing. If it would help them, that would be great, but they can make the decision themselves. Where a local youth employment scheme could work really well is in doing the things on the ground which are difficult to do. This includes identifying and transcribing gravestones, most of which are in a dreadful state of disrepair throughout the country. Also, collecting oral history is valuable. Something we have not had for a long time is an oral history project. We could try to determine what survives locally from the folklore project in the 1930s. These are projects in which they could play a role, but throwing them into historical record projects may not be the best use of their efforts.

Another point raised by Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú was interesting and, if committee members do not mind, I will address it. It relates to how engagement will work between all interested parties. It is a complex issue because there are many vested interests and stakeholders.

It would probably be partially collaborative and competitive in looking for their slice of the pie. Ultimately, however, it is mainly a collaborative approach. Must we set up an organisation to do this? What might be more useful is to have a regular meeting point where all of these organisations - private, public and voluntary - could meet and engage with their ideas. Better still, the State could facilitate that innovation, making it possible for more things to happen.