Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Taoiseach if he will enable the early release of the 1926 census returns as soon as possible. [18743/20]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Censuses of Population held between 1926 and 1991 inclusive were carried out under the 1926 Statistics Act which did not permit any access to Census records, at any time. However, the 1993 Statistics Act repealed the 1926 and 1946 Statistics Acts and provided for the release of Census forms for these Censuses 100 years after the date of the relevant Census. This retrospective introduction of the 100 years exemption was seen by some as undermining the original guarantee of confidentiality given to householders. However, it was generally accepted that 100 years was a reasonable compromise in all the circumstances, including having regard to increasing life expectancy.

Accordingly, planning is underway between the Central Statistics Office and the National Archives to facilitate the release of the 1926 Census returns in 2026 after the expiry of the 100-year rule.