Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Defence if there is a timescale for the release of the military pension records. [48561/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Military Service Pensions Archive project is a cornerstone of the Government Centenary Programme. Approximately 300,000 files relating to the period from Easter Week, 1916, through the War of Independence and Civil War comprise this collection. The files relate mainly to applications by individuals and/or their dependants for the award of pension and gratuities for veterans who served as members of the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, the Irish Republican Army, Cumann na mBan, the National Army/Defence Forces on active service or who were casualties or wounded while on duty during the period from April and May 1916 through to 30 September 1923. A phased release of material into the public domain is planned. The first release, primarily web-based and concentrated on 1916 participants, is planned for early 2013. Regular releases relating to the War of Independence and Civil War will occur in the run up to 2016.

Subsequent releases will have a web element but it is important to note that not all papers on each file will be available online. Physical visits to the Military Archives will be required to see the full material. It is envisaged that the provision of accommodation for people wishing to access the Military Archives records and for the storage of the archives will be progressed further under the Governments Centenary Programme.