Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 181: To ask the Taoiseach if he has been requested to introduce legislative changes in order to enable the 1926 Census returns to be made open to the public to facilitate historical and sociological research; if he will request the National Archives of Ireland to make the 1926 Census returns available on the internet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29269/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Taoiseach if he will reduce, from 100 years to 50 years, the period of time after which census returns can be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29270/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.

I am aware of the views of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations regarding access to the 1926 Census returns.

The position is that the confidentiality of all statistical returns from individuals, households and business is guaranteed by law, and this guarantee is the cornerstone of all CSO surveys, not least Censuses of Population.

The Censuses of Population between 1926 and 1991 were carried out under the 1926 Statistics Act which did not permit any access to Census records, at any time. However, the 1993 Statistics Act repealed the 1926 and 1946 Statistics Acts and provided for the release of census forms for these Censuses 100 years after the date of the relevant Census.

When this provision was debated in the Seanad at the time, the view was expressed that the proposed 100 years period should be reduced to 75, or even 50 years. However, while the retrospective introduction of the 100 years exemption was seen by some as undermining the original guarantee given to householders, it was generally accepted that 100 years was a reasonable compromise in all the circumstances, including having regard to life expectancy considerations.

I am satisfied, therefore, that the 100 years period provided for in the 1993 Act strikes the right balance in facilitating legitimate historical and sociological research on the one hand, while protecting the confidentiality of Census data and the integrity of CSO procedures on the other.