asked the Minister for Health the way in which local registrars are appointed; their terms of reference; the staff numbers involved in this area of employment; and the proposals, if any, he has in these respects.
Written Answers. - Appointment of Registrars.
73.
Registrars are appointed by the health boards under the general direction of An tArd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar General).
A Registrar must attend at a known place of business and register births, deaths and marriages occurring within his district, on the information of qualified informants or otherwise as provided by law, in register books supplied for the purpose. He is also obliged to furnish quarterly returns of all births, deaths and marriages recorded to An tArd-Chláraitheoir and statistical returns to the Central Statistics Office. He also issues certificates from the register books when required. At present there are approximately 380 registrars operating 632 registration districts.
It is the policy where vacancies arise in registration districts to centralise the registration into the bigger towns and, where possible, to have it carried out by trained health board staff already engaged in registration work. This creates a more efficient and convenient service for the public and is working well.