Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding parish records. [44185/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, there is a wide range of genealogical material available in the country. In relation to my Department and the agencies under my auspices, genealogical services are provided by the National Library of Ireland (NLI), the National Archives of Ireland and through the website , which is operated by my Department.

The NLI is committed to making its collections more accessible to users. With regard to the microfilm copies of the Roman Catholic Parish Registers, the Library has a current project with a third-party supplier to produce digital images from the microfilm, with a view to enabling greater accessibility.

I am very conscious of the importance of genealogical records, particularly to those Irish abroad trying to trace their roots. My Department and the institutions are currently exploring what improvements could be made to our genealogical offering against the backdrop of The Gathering. That work is ongoing.