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

We have to understand the constraints involved in regard to the endeavour which the Deputy mentions. As of 1 February 2019 the National Archives has received transfers of 154,579 files in archival boxes, relating to the termination of fair rents by the former Irish Land Commission, which the Deputy mentioned in her letter. Unfortunately, the National Archives are currently unable to make these publicly available owing to a lack of suitable storage space from which they could be retrieved for public consultation in its reading room. This situation is likely to continue until such time as the archives repository project is completed. In addition, the National Archives does not have sufficient archival staff to carry out the processing and checking work necessary before the records can be released to the public.

I am advised that as these archives are still required by the Irish Land Commission for the purpose of the discharge of its ongoing statutory functions it is not possible to transfer the fair rent order files to the National Archives.

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