Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her question. I received her letter and I understand an acknowledgement was issued.

All matters concerning records of the Irish Land Commission are a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I have no function in this regard. As the Deputy will be aware, this is a very complex and sensitive area. I have had initial inquiries made of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and it has no immediate plans to make the estimated 8 million former Irish land Commission records, located at the record storage facility in Portlaoise, generally available to the public for research purposes or otherwise as these are, in its view, still working documents. Officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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 former Irish Land Commission.

Owners and purchasers of land and their personal or legal representatives are allowed access to and copies of relevant documents and maps. The records storage facility in Portlaoise is not in a position to provide a research facility, as the provision of such a service would require much greater resources than those currently available. I am advised that many of these files contain private and personal information and, as such, are subject to data protection, including estates' title deeds lodged in the former Irish Land Commission by landed families when the land was being transferred. I am conscious of the enthusiastic public interest in obtaining access to the vast repository of former Irish Land Commission documents held. However, wider access will be a matter for consideration when the completion of the work of the former Irish Land Commission is at a more advanced stage. Furthermore, the records that are available in paper format are fragile, some of them dating back as far as the early 1800s and this resource is irreplaceable in the event of loss or damage. To maintain the records, it is essential they are handled and stored appropriately. I am advised that opening up access to these files cannot be considered until appropriate measures are undertaken to minimise potential damage from routine handling.

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