Each January, the National Archives releases 30-year-old records from Departments of State for public consultation, under the National Archives Act, 1986.

Records are transferred from government departments, courts and scheduled bodies. These records, which are mostly paper files, are preserved by archivists and conservators to ensure that they can be accessed without risking damage. Archivists prepare finding aids for each file, which can be accessed in our online catalogue and Reading Room.

In 2022, the National Archives (Amendment) Act, 2018 allowed the release of records over 20 years old in certain instances.

This includes records related to the peace process leading to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. Some departments involved in Anglo-Irish matters, such as the Departments of the Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs, Justice, and the Office of the Attorney General have released records dating from between 1992 and 1998. This has enabled historians to study contemporaneous Irish and British negotiations.

The release of State records is crucial for preserving the collective memory of the nation as well as for safeguarding government archives recording history, governance and heritage.

These archives are valuable resources for researchers, historians and the public, helping to understand the past and its impact on the present and future.

In January 2025, records up to 1994 and Anglo-Irish records to 2004 will be released.