Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that will be required to digitise the 1926 Census; the legal and administrative problems that arise with this; when the legislation will be required to allow for the publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27247/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enabling the publication of the 1926 Census. The project requires two principal components to be addressed. The first is the legal necessity to change the relevant legislation to permit publication of the Census before the expiry of the statutory 100 year period, while respecting certain rights. The second is the technical process whereby the material can be converted from the paper records to a searchable electronic database in a cost-effective fashion.

Legal advice has been obtained in relation to the legislative changes and consultation with relevant bodies is in progress. Possible technical approaches are also currently being considered, as are their resource implications. I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government on this matter in the near future.