Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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1375. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current status of preparations for the public release of the 1926 Census records by the National Archives; the timeline for digitisation and publication; the staffing and funding allocated to support this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43399/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The National Archives is preparing the 1926 Census for public release in April 2026. €5 Million in funding has been allocated by my Department 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. Much of this work is being undertaken by staff of the National Archives. 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.