Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I lived in the United States for approximately 20 years. I worked with the then Irish tourist board for a number of those years and promoted Irish tourism. I realise the importance of genealogy and its contribution to the tourism industry here. Many of the people I met in the United States during the period to which I refer and since then - those who are, and those who wish they were, Irish - always longed to trace their roots in Ireland. I recall coming across one individual recently who informed me that his grandfather emigrated from Dublin in the 1920s. The person in question states that the family name was O'Connell and asked if I might know any members of it here. I replied that I did not think I knew any O'Connells from Dublin who were here in the 1920s. In recent weeks I received an e-mail from a gentleman in Canada who goes by the name of Eldon Coghlan and who informed me that his family emigrated in the 1920s. He spells his surname the same way I do and he wanted to know if we were related. I wrote back and said "No". I also informed him that he should make contact with Fine Gael's Chief Whip in the Seanad, Senator Paul Coghlan, who might be able to provide assistance. I understand how important it is for some people to be able to trace their roots back to Ireland.

Senator MacSharry stated that there is absolutely no reason why the information relating to the 1926 census should not be released. However, a reason does exist. Releasing the data from the 1926 census prior to 2026 would require a change in the legislation which governs the gathering of statistics. According to the Central Statistics Office, CSO, this is not possible. One of the main reasons for this relates to the ongoing work being carried out to prepare the data from the 1926 census for publication. Existing legislation guarantees that there is a 100-year delay before details are published. Data from the most recent census shows that there were some 400 people aged 100 years or more living in Ireland in 2011. The 2011 census also shows that some 58,000 persons aged 85 years or older were then living here. Details relating to most of these individuals would more than likely be included in census returns from 1926.

Releasing the 1926 census might be seen as reneging on the statistical guarantee given to those persons who are still alive today and whose details are included in the data relating to that census. According to the CSO, the information provided by them or on their behalf in 1926 is confidential. I agree that the 1926 census is of great historical significance, particularly in view of the fact that the census returns made in the 1800s were destroyed by fire and explosion in 1922. The 1926 records have significant heritage value because they provide a valuable insight into people's lives during that period of our country's history. The census records from 1901 and 1911 have bee already published. However, the 1926 census covers the period from 1911 to 1916 and beyond.

The Statistics Act 1993 stipulates that census data must be withheld for 100 years. If the records were to be released early and in time for the 1916 centenary commemorations, a change in legislation would be required. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, with the approval of the Cabinet, has established a 1926 working group. This working group considers that releasing the 1926 census data early would prejudice and undermine the ongoing collection of national statistical data. However, the Minister is of the opinion that the extensive preparatory work required to facilitate the release of the data can commence in advance of this legal restriction being resolved. The CSO and the National Archives have agreed to begin this work on the census records. There will, however, be costs associated with the said work, particularly in the context of the need to employ additional staff and to fit out of accommodation for the project because the National Archives' premises in Bishop Street is not suitable.

The 1901-1911 census project was carried out on a co-operative basis and cost approximately €5 million. The material from these censuses was, for the most part, available in microfilm format. This made it easy to convert to digital format for publishing. The cost to digitise and publish the 1926 census data is expected to be higher because this material has never been microfilmed and the individual return sheets would have to be scanned and cross-indexed. In light of the current economic climate, the director of the National Archives is considering alternative models of digitisation.

The Minister, Deputy Deenihan, will revert to the Government in this regard. The publication of the 1926 census records 12 or 13 years early is a complex and sensitive matter. It is the considered view of the working group set up by the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, and of the CSO that the early release of the 1926 census data would prejudice and undermine the ongoing collection of national statistical data.