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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Aug 1923

Vol. 4 No. 23

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ ORAL ANSWERS. ] - REGISTRATION RECORDS.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether the Registrar-General has issued an order transferring all records of births, marriages, and deaths from Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, to Cavan town; whether he is aware that such a transfer will entail enormous trouble, expense, and delay to all in Bawnboy who require certificates of age, etc.; whether such an order has been carried out in other counties, and, if so, which counties; whether the Registrar-General consulted with the Local Government Minister and the Law Officers of the Government before making this change, and whether any communication concerning it passed between the Local Government Department and the Cavan County Board of Health prior to the issuing of the order; further, whether the Cavan County Council, the County Board of Health, and all local authorities in Cavan are against the proposal, and if the Registrar-General can show any reason, either from an economic or other point of view, justifying the change.

On the directions of the Registrar-General, who is an officer of this Ministry, the registration records have been transferred from Bawnboy to the central strong room at Cavan. This transfer will not involve any serious trouble, expense, or delay to parties in Bawnboy requiring certificates of age Similar transfers have been carried out in Counties Kildare, Kilkenny, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, and Wicklow, and will be effected in the remaining counties according to the progress of amalgamation schemes under the several Boards of Health. This change was made in connection with the County Cavan amalgamation schemes with my authority and full weight was given to all legal considerations. It was not necessary to communicate with the County Cavan Board of Health prior to the issue of the directions, but protests against the proposal were received from the Superitendent Registrar at Bawnboy. I have no information in regard to the views of the local authorities in Cavan on the matter, but the Deputy may feel assured that the centralisation of the records in each county under the control of an officer of the County Board of Health, will make for safety and substantial economy in administration, while no serious inconvenience will be entailed.

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