Written Answers. - General Register Office.
Ivan Yates
Question:
179
Mr. Yates
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if he has satisfied himself with the waiting periods in the processing of original birth certificates at Joyce House, Lombard Street East, Dublin 2; and the proposals, if any, he has to increase the staff resources to shorten these waiting lists and expedite applicants' requests.
[6036/00]
The administration of the registration system, including the services and facilities provided at Joyce House is statutorily a matter for An tArd-Chláraitheoir, Register-General of Births, Deaths 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.
There have been some difficulties with these services from time to time and the Superintendent Registrar's Office is currently experiencing an increase in demand for certificates. A number of measures have been taken over the past 12 months to improve services supplied at Joyce House. In June 1999 the Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of the Superintendent Registrar's Office, transferred Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages, into new accommodation in the neighbouring Lucia House, which has been specially adapted to ensure that people are enabled to conduct sensitive registration matters with an appropriate degree of privacy. The transfer of registrars from accommodation on the ground floor of Joyce House facilitated the extension of the waiting area in the Superintendent Registrar's Office and improved waiting facilities for applicants for certificates. The board also took steps to improve staffing levels in the Superintendent Registrar's office in order to improve the rate of production of certificates.
The transfer of the registrars to the new building also facilitated further improvements within the General Register Office, including the extension of the public search room to cater for the increased interest in family research. I also understand that the General Register Office is currently experiencing some delays in responding to postal applications but that additional resources have been provided to resolve this particular problem.
As the Deputy may be aware, the General Register Office archive conversion project is currently under way in Roscommon. This project involves the capture of the records of over 150 years of births, deaths and marriages and associated indexes. In addition my Department, together with the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, is currently engaged in planning the technological, legislative and structural changes necessary for the computerisation of the registration process. It will be appreciated that both these initiatives, when completed, will make a major contribution to the delivery of a flexible, effective and efficient service.
