Hi Listers, I am have been watching debate on the Heritage Centres and research in Ireland with interest. I am from New Zealand and I am experienced genealogist. There seems to be a problem with the person who wants research done and the researchers. I agree with the person who says that researchers do not look in the correct place, as in her case, when the family are poor and lands and deeds records are searched. My experience is that if you hire a researcher, you have to direct them to search, what you want. You have to know what records are available and tell the researcher which ones to search. The researcher then is employed by you to look where you want. I think to tell the researcher just to search, is not fair to them. Genealogists outside of New Zealand, Australia, America and Canada, make the mistake of thinking that we do not know what we are talking about. Some may not, but in my experience if you have got to the point of using a researcher, you have know WHAT records you want searching and direct them accordingly. Much has been said in NZ about Heritage Centres, that they are slow and that they charge a lot of money. An understanding of the volume of work, they receive is a must, but also a clear idea by the Heritage Centres about what you get for money and a timeframe would alleviate a lot of frustration. I believe that if a researcher was allowed to access Herit.age Centre records, and charged a reasonable rate, had a an ordered system, they would have enough work to take them into old age, and live well! That's enough from me. Erin in NZ