asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the very considerable hardship being imposed on a large number of citizens whereby they are obliged to queue in the public street while waiting for access to the Office of the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Dublin; and if he will make urgent representations to the appropriate authorities to improve the capacity of this building in order to assist members of the public and the staff working there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Births and Deaths Registry.
13.
I am aware of the delays which have recently been experienced by applicants for certificates at the Office of the Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Pearse Street, Dublin. My Department have recently taken this matter up with the Eastern Health Board to see what changes in arrangements might be possible to improve the position.
Is the Minister aware that is the same reply which was given to a similar question 12 months ago and that we are that length of time waiting for the Minister to take the initiative in improving the situation in Pearse Street? I witnessed recently about 20 people queuing in the snow to get into those premises.
There is a reason for a similar situation arising 12 months ago as it appears to be a seasonal peak largely increased by the demand for passports at this time of the year.
If that is the situation now apparently no steps will be taken to improve it before next year.
Steps were taken last year following the parliamentary question here and these were seen to be adequate. The pressure declined subsequently and there is again further pressure being experienced at this time.
Would the Minister not agree that people queuing in Pearse Street is not a seasonal affair? One could go down Pearse Street almost any day of any month in the year and find people in all types of weather forced to queue out in the street.
The office is grossly under-staffed.
It is very unsuitable.
I have written to the Eastern Health Board about the problem and they have given me assurances that it is a seasonal problem. If the Deputy claims that it is occurring equally throughout the year I will certainly take that point up with them.
Can the Minister give us the date of his communications with the Eastern Health Board?
There have been a number of communications and visits to the Eastern Health Board. There was a communication on 2 July 1980 drawing attention to the problem which arose early in 1980 and the possibility of its recurrence. The board were then considering carrying out an O and M survey of the office with a view to possible modernisation or alterations in the system. They were also looking at the possibility of providing alternative accommodation. The officers of my Department again visited the Pearse Street office on 28 January 1981 to see the position at first hand and discuss it with the superintendent registrar. On 4 February 1981 the Department wrote to the health board drawing attention to the recurrence of the problem and suggesting possible ways of easing it. That is fairly efficient.
Would the Minister not agree that from last July to the present time is an inordinate length of time before anything concrete was done?