Monday 3 October 2011

NAI cuts Genealogy Service hours


The Genealogy Service at the National Archives of Ireland in Bishop Street will be operating a reduced service with effect from today.

The hours of this outstanding service, which is manned only by members of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI), have been cut to just 3.5 hours a day.

Operating Monday to Friday, the hours are now 10am to 13.30pm.

Provided free to genealogy researchers, this service provides one-to-one advice to all-comers, whether they are just starting out on their family history or are experienced but facing a brickwall. Its Visitor Book, which is filled with addresses from North America, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain, as well as Ireland and other, less expected countries, is proof of its popularity and recognition.

The reduction in hours is a serious blow, and seems out of step with the Government's supposed recognition of the value of genealogy tourism.