Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Written Answers. - General Register Office.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

15 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the daily queues at the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages at Joyce House, Lombard Street, Dublin 2; if he will have arrangements made to have the necessary resources provided to eliminate these queues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14237/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I am aware that the queues for services outside the registration offices located at Joyce House 811 Lombard St East, Dublin 2, have been considerable in recent times and I regret the inconvenience to the people concerned. The administration of the registration system, including the services and facilities provided at Joyce House is statutorily a matter for An tArd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar-General) of Births, Death and Marriages and for the Superintendent Registrar, Dublin, and registrars, who operate under his general direction.

There are two separate offices located at Joyce House issuing certificates of births, deaths and marriages, the General Register Office and the above-mentioned Superintendent Registrar's Office on the ground floor, which provides certificates for all births, deaths and (Roman Catholic) marriages occurring within the Dublin city and county area. This latter office in particular is currently experiencing a very high level of demand for certificates which is the primary cause of the queues outside the building.

Measures have been taken to improve the situation. The Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of the Superintendent Registrar's Office, has secured a lease on a premises adjoining the offices in Lombard Street and will get possession of the building from 1 July 1998. However, I understand that it will take some weeks to commission the new offices. In the interim the board has taken steps to improve staffing levels in the Superintendent Registrar's office in order to redress the problem. The provision of six additional staff has increased the rate of production of certificates and this has reduced the size of the queues. Further additional staff have been sanctioned by my Department for the registration service.

In a further effort to improve the situation my Department has made accommodation available in Joyce House to enable registrars of births, deaths and marriages to vacate space on the ground floor of that office with effect from 25 May 1998 to facilitate the extension of the waiting area in the Superintendent Registrars Office. I understand that some minor structural alterations will be required and that these will be carried out as soon as possible. The registrars have moved to more spacious accommodation which will ensure a greater level of privacy and comfort to people registering births and deaths. These measures will considerably improve matters for the public attending at Joyce House.