Madam, - Sean Murphy's criticisms of the General Register Office (September 27th), while well made, only scratch the surface as regards the frustrations endured by users.
Not only do researchers have to manually search through hardcopy indexes to genealogical records (this despite the existence of electronic databases of all Irish births post-1864 and all deaths and marriages since the early 1920s), but they are forced to pay handsomely for the privilege. It costs €2 to consult a single five-year run of specific indexes (eg births 1870-1874) or €20 for unlimited access which is payable in full regardless of whether one arrives first thing in the morning or an hour from close. Given that the indexes are on open access and retrieved by researchers themselves, one wonders what precisely this charge is for.
Using reference numbers supplied in these indexes, the records themselves must then be ordered for a further €4 a pop, a legitimate charge which covers printing and prevents the service being paralysed by individuals ordering masses of records willy-nilly. But, as Mr Murphy points out, only five such records will be provided on site in any one day which, given that the information contained in one record is frequently an indispensable lead to tracing another, can bring research shuddering to a maddeningly premature halt. Worse still, the ordering procedure for these records is strictly governed by the principle of "you pays your money and you takes your choice" even though certain indexes contain insufficient information to isolate those one requires.
For example, the pre-1903 birth indexes list only the child's name and registration district, making it impossible to distinguish between identical entries of which, given the high concentration of certain surnames in certain areas, there are often a considerable number.
And in an infuriating display of petty officiousness, staff refuse to utilise any additional information you can personally supply to limit the possibilities, insisting you pay your €4 and guess. So for instance I was recently told that I would have "to take a gamble" between two identical indexical entries for Michael Smiths born in Cavan in 1879, despite being able to provide the exact date of birth and the full parental names of the one whose record I required.
Needless to say I chose the wrong one, which not only meant the unnecessary waste of €4 but, more importantly, the loss of one of that day's precious five "lives".
This is not to criticise the GRO's front line staff who are unfailingly polite and helpful, but are placed in the invidious position of implementing indefensible policies, policies which must be especially exasperating for overseas researchers who are travelling here in increasing numbers and at substantial expense to investigate their Irish ancestry.
That their efforts are hampered by such money-grubbing practices and bureaucratic bloodymindedness is a national disgrace, particularly when the promotion of so-called "roots tourism" has been sponsored by government agencies and included in official tourism plans.
- Yours, etc,
SEÁN GANNON, Rhebogue, Limerick.