Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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185. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department plans to make the 1926 census of Ireland available to view publicly online; if so, the timeframe for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34055/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Census 1926 returns, along with all censuses less than 100 years old, remain under the legal control of the Central Statistics Office. After 100 years, the census returns must be released for public inspection, in accordance with the Statistics Act, 1993. The National Archives is preparing the 1926 Census for public release in April 2026.

My Department is providing funding for the significant volume of work required to prepare the 1926 Census for online publication, involving cataloguing, conservation, digitisation and transcription of the data in the individual 1926 Census forms. The published census data will be linked to the digital images of the individual returns in which the data was recorded. This work is on track for completion in time for public release next year, on 18 April 2026.

I know that the release of the 1926 census is eagerly anticipated and will be of great benefit to anyone carrying out research on their Irish ancestry and family history. These historic records which will be freely available and easily accessible will be a rich source of information to all members of the public and broader diaspora.