Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Taoiseach if he will bring forward the publication of the 1926 census to boost the ancestry tourism sector by increasing by one third the amount of records available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35775/10]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The Censuses of Population between 1926 and 1991 were taken under the Statistics Act 1926, which prohibited the release of any data collected under the Act. The Statistics Act 1993 repealed the 1926 Act and allowed for the release of information collected on census forms 100 years after the date of the relevant Census.

The retrospection entailed by the introduction of the 100 years exemption was seen by some as undermining the original confidentiality guarantee. However, it was generally accepted as a reasonable compromise between guaranteeing statistical confidentiality and giving access for genealogical research given that relatively few persons would still be alive 100 years after being enumerated in the relevant census.

It would be totally inappropriate to reduce the 100 year threshold to 85 years as suggested by the Deputy as this would entail releasing the personal details of approximately 50,000 living persons aged 85 years and over who would have been enumerated in 1926 census.

As the guarantee of statistical confidentiality is the cornerstone of all CSO surveys it is important that it is strictly observed. Otherwise there would be a high likelihood of a negative impact on response rates, not alone to the forthcoming census in April 2011 but also to other surveys covering households and businesses.

Consequently, the Government does not have any plans to amend the Statistics Act 1993 through the reduction of the 100 years threshold.