Access to the 1901 and 1911 census returns for the entire island of Ireland has been available for public research for over forty years and indeed, through the fine work of the National Archives of Ireland, the 1911 census returns are currently being digitised and made freely available on the internet. The public interest in this research facility has been nothing short of phenomenal. After completing the digitisation of the1911 census, the National Archives plans to commence work on the 1901 census returns and eventually, have this wonderful resource freely available via the internet.However, the current restriction on public access to the returns of census of population taken since independence stems from Section 35 of the Statistics Act, 1993, which reads:
Section 35 In the case of a Census of Population undertaken under this Act or under the repealed enactments, the restrictions of sections 32 and 33 of this Act shall cease to apply 100 years after the date of the relevant Census.
At the time of the passing of Statistics Bill through Seanad Éireann in 1993, the then Dún Laoghaire Genealogical Society (now the Genealogical Society of Ireland) urged Senators to reduce the closure period to between fifty and seventy years to allow for the 1926 Census of Population to be opened for genealogical and family history research.
The importance of census returns to genealogical was recognised by the Minister of State at the Dept. of An Taoiseach, Mr. Noel Dempsey, TD, when he introduced the Second Stage of the Statistics Bill on in Seanad Éireann June 17th 1993, he said:
Another major change to existing legislation is provided for in section 35. This will allow public access to the forms completed in the censuses of population since 1926, but only 100 years after the date of the relevant census. The forms which survive from the 1901 and 1911 censuses are not governed by the Statistics Act, 1926, and are accessible to the public in the National Archives. Indeed, they are the most frequently used documents in the archives. They provide an invaluable source of information for genealogical purposes, and many people call into the archives every day to find out more about their ancestors. Public access to census of population records after a lengthy period is a common practice internationally. (volume 136)
In reply Senator Maurice Manning, who agreed to support the amendment proposed by the Genealogical Society, said:
The Minister of State mentioned the question of raw data being made available 100 years after its compilation. This is one area where I would take issue with the Bill. The Minister said one of the most frequently used sections in the National Archives is that dealing with the data from the censuses of 1906 (sic) and 1911 but we are saying that the census material compiled since the foundation of the State, for example in 1926 and 1936, will not be available for 100 years. I regret this. I should say that the wonderful, new National Archives are doing a great deal for scholarship in this country and are a credit to all concerned.
At present Cabinet papers are made available after 30 years and they frequently contain sensitive material which can make or break reputations, and provide a fuller picture of how Government operated on our behalf at that time. The data made available under a 50 or 60 year rule would largely be used by bona fide scholars and researchers, and the National Archives would be in a position to check the credentials of those who wished to use it.
I would accept a situation where some material is classified and other material is not, as happens with some police records where examinations are made as to what may or may not be released. I would like to hear what the Minister of State has to say on that point because I think a period of 100 years is too restrictive. Perhaps he could say what the situation is in other countries with regard to the release of archive material. I intend moving an amendment on this at which point we can discuss it further. (volume 136)
Senator Manning put down an amendment at the Committee Stage reducing the period of closure to fifty years however this amendment was withdrawn at the request of the Minister who would consider a seventy year closure period. But unfortunately the amendment was not pressed and the Bill finally passed all stages in Dáil Éireann on July 7th 1993.
The Genealogical Sociuety of Ireland has campaigned ever since the passing of the Statistics Act, 1993 for a reversal of this hundred year rule. For many decades the public has been able to view the Irish Census Returns taken in 1901 and 1911, but the continued closure of the 1926 Census Returns leaves an enormously important resource inaccessible to historians, genealogists and the general public.
The years between the 1911 Census and that of 1926 was arguably the most turbulent period in modern Irish history. The outbreak of World War 1 in 1914, which was eventually to see around 49,000 Irishmen killed before it ended in 1918, the Easter Rising in 1916 followed by the General Election in 1918 leading to the establishment of the First Dáil in 1919.
The declaration of independence by the first Dáil on January 21st 1919, a date peculiarly not officially marked in Ireland, was followed by the Irish War of Independence until a truce was declared in 1921. After difficult negotiations a Treaty with Great Britain was signed in 1921 which established the Irish Free State in 1922. The establishment of the Free State was greeted by division and a bitter Civil War which ended in 1924 and left its mark on Irish polical life for much of the last century.
Four years after its establishment, the new Irish Free State held its first census in 1926, fifteen years after the last census and at the height of economic depression and emigration. This fifteen year period has also, for example, an enormous cultural and linguistic significance in that the Gaeltacht areas where much more extensive with native speakers existing in counties that today have no Gaeltachtaí within their borders and yet, the Irish language and culture had now the backing of the new State.
This 1926 Census was “closed” for 100 years by the Statistics Act, 1993, in line with all other census returns taken since 1926. This hundred year rule is in stark contrast with other western democracies with the exception of the United Kingdom. In the United States, for example, the census returns for 1930 are available on-line along with those for each of the preceding decades for which census returns exist.
A Draft Bill was presented by the Genealogical Society of Ireland to Senators and it is currently under consideration with a view to publication. Whilst keeping the hundred year rule for all other census returns, the Draft Bill seeks to create an exception for the 1926 census by affording it a “special heritage status” in order to bridge this gap in our records covering this very important period in our nation’s history from 1911 to 1926. Though, the ideal solution would be to scrap the hundred year rule altogether and replace it with, say a fifty year closure period, the Genealogical Society of Ireland understands the sensibilities that may surround such a proposition. Therefore, the creation of a “special heritage status” for the first census taken since independence should allay fears on the confidentially of later census returns. Indeed, the huge interest that such a measure would have amongst our Diaspora would be welcomed by many sectors in the economy, not least, the tourism industry. The release of the 1926 Census Returns would be an enormously significant contribution to our understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the early years of the independence of our State and its people, our ancestors.
Michael Merrigan, FGSI,
General Secretary,
Genealogical Society of Ireland
