asked the Minister for Health whether he has received representations about the delays in issuing birth certificates by the General Registrar's Office; and whether he will take steps to augment the staff of this department with a view to ensuring promptitude in their work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issuing of Birth Certificates.
Demands made on the General Register Office during the past few months for birth certificates have been unexpectedly heavy, and complaints have been received about the delay in meeting them. The question of the provision of extra staff is receiving attention.
In view of the fact that a large number of people are contemplating holidays abroad and that few realise the necessity of making approaches to the Registrar General a long time ahead, will the Minister take urgent measures to deal with the matter, because a number of people have been gravely inconvenienced by having made arrangements for holidays and having approached the Registrar General for a birth certificate with a view to getting a travel permit discovered then that, owing to the delay involved, most of their arrangements for holidays must be cancelled, which in the case of a person granted holidays by an employer can prove extremely inconvenient?
Yes, I am doing everything possible to get it fixed up.