Bernard Allen
Question:105 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the reason it takes two months for adopted children to get a birth certificate from Dublin.
Written Answers. - Adopted Children Register.
Certified copies of an entry in the Adopted Children Register, which for adopted persons fulfil the same functions as a birth certificate, are available only from the General Register Office at Joyce House, Lombard Street East, Dublin 2. The issue of such certificates is statutorily a matter for the Register-General who has custody of the Register.
I am informed by him that applicants for such certificates may apply personally to the General Register Office or send an application through the post. Personal applicants are dealt with on the spot.
However, there is normally a backlog of postal applications for certificates of all types. Due to a significantly increased volume of demand in recent years this backlog has at times been quite lengthy. Currently the backlog extends to approximately 6 weeks postal business. However, within resource limitations all postal applicants will be dealt with as speedily as is possible.