Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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419. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure access to the historical records of the Land Commission are facilitated for researchers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38806/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There are no immediate plans to make the 8 million or so records of the former Commission generally available to the public for research purposes or otherwise as they are still working documents and have not been handed over to the National Archives. My officials regularly access these records to service queries from the public relating to current and past transactions and for the full completion of the work of the Land Commission. Wider access will be a matter for consideration when the completion of the work of the former ILC is at a more advanced stage. The records which are available in paper format only are fragile, some dating back as far as the late 1800’s and are anirreplaceable resource should they get damaged.In order to maintain them it is essential that they are handled and stored appropriately. Opening up access to these files cannot be considered until appropriate measures are undertaken to minimise potential damage from routine handling. While limited access is granted to persons on application, the office does not provide a research facility as the provision of such a service would require much greater resources than those currently available.