Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the efforts he has made to publish the 1926 census; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21172/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to enabling the publication of the 1926 Census records. A 1926 Census Working Group has been formed comprising officials from my Department, the National Archives and the Central Statistics Office. The group has met to consider how best to enable the publication of the 1926 Census records. Under current legislation, (the Statistics Act, 1993), census data must be withheld for 100 years. If the records were to be released before the expiry of 100 years a change in legislation would be required to allow for the early release. Following discussions with the CSO, the Minister is of the opinion that the extensive preparatory work required to facilitate the release of the data into the public domain can commence in advance of the legal restriction being adressed. The CSO and the National Archives have agreed to facilitate the preparatory work on the Census records.