Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Departmental Records

11:00 pm

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are plans to release the Land Commission records in view of the fact that they are an irreplaceable historical repository; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26746/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The files of the former Land Commission are retained in the Records Branch of my Department, which is currently located in the National Archives Building in Bishop Street. These files have not been formally handed over to the National Archives as they contain title documentation of all land acquired by the former Commission for distribution under the Land Purchase Acts. My officials regularly access these files to service queries from the public relating to current and past transactions involving the former Land Commission.

Certified copies of title documents are issued to vendors or purchasers, their successors in title or their respective solicitors under Statutory Instrument No 341 of 1939. Access to these documents is also governed by Statutory Instrument No 230 of 1964. Personal and other information contained in the files is also accessible under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts. There are no plans at present to make the files generally available for historical research purposes. However, limited access may be made available following application to the Legal Services Division of my Department.

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