Tuesday 19 January 2016

Genealogy is a key focus for DAHG's 2016 Action Plan

In its newly published Action Plan for Jobs 2016 (APJ16), the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht sets out its commitment to the Irish genealogy sector.

Among its 'Key Departmental actions' is a commitment to 'enhance genealogy tourism through ongoing development of cultural digitisation initiatives'. No further detail has been made available, as far as I can see, but I won't be the only one hoping for an early update – the addition of 1915 births, 1940 marriages and 1965 deaths – and more marriage entries showing both parties to the union.

Hopefully it also means the plan to create an online pay-to-view facility for bmd certificates, similar to that available in Northern Ireland, will also be chugging its way to the light.

Announcing the APJ16, the Minister for the DAHG, Heather Humphreys TD, said: “Our language, culture and heritage contribute enormously to making Ireland an attractive place to live in, to invest in and to visit. The economic recovery will allow for increased investment in the arts, heritage and Gaeltacht sectors in the year ahead and my Department will contribute to job creation across a range of sectors in 2016, including tourism, the arts and the audio visual sector.

“The 2016 Action Plan for Jobs includes commitments to promote Irish art and artists worldwide and to support a wide range of arts venues, festivals, arts organisations and touring initiatives around Ireland. We will continue to support digitisation projects, which will be a boost to genealogy tourism as more and more people seek to explore their Irish roots.

“The Government will invest in a range of major cultural infrastructure projects in the year ahead. This includes the heritage projects being developed as part of Ireland 2016, such as the new visitor centres at the GPO and Teach an Phiarsaigh, and the new Tenement Museum. Other major projects include the refurbishment at the National Gallery, the expansion of the National Archives and the development of the Cork Events Centre."