Vol. 509 No. 5
130 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health and Children if the results of a post mortem and the issue of a death certificate for a person (details supplied) will be expedited without further delay in view of the hardship it is causing to the family concerned. [20986/99]
The administration of the registration system is a matter for An tArd-Chlaraitheoir, the Registrar General for Births, Deaths and Marriages, and for local registrars who operate under his general direction.
I have had enquiries made of An tArd-Chlaraitheoir and I understand that the report of the post-mortem cannot be finalised until the result of tests have been furnished by the histopathology department of Waterford Regional Hospital. When the report of the above mentioned post-mortem becomes available, the coroner will determine whether or not an inquest is necessary. The registrar must await the decision of the coroner before registering the death.
I appreciate the situation of the family of the deceased, but, as I have previously indicated in my reply to a similar question, the provision of services in the histopathology department at Waterford Regional Hospital is a matter for the South Eastern Health Board in the first instance. The board is committed to the continued development of these services in consultation with my Department, I understand that the board recently appointed a fourth consultant histopathologist for the region and is actively seeking to recruit additional histopathology technicians.
