Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 6

Written Answers. - Health Board Staffing.

Michael Ring

Question:

222 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce legislation to increase the fees paid to people who are not permanent and pensionable employees of the health boards and who derive their incomes from fees for registrations and issuing birth, death and marriage certificates, as set out in S.I. No. 278 of 1987 and S.I. 234 of 1987, particularly in view of the fact that their workload has increased since the introduction of the Stillbirths Registration Act, 1994, and the notification of intention to marry under the Family Law Act, 1995, and in view of the fact that a review of fees was promised some time ago. [23591/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The administration of the registration system for births, deaths and marriages is primarily a matter for An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir, Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and for local registrars who operate under his general direction. Persons appointed registrars, who are not permanent and pensionable employees of the health boards, derive income from fees for registrations and fees for the certificates issued by them. These fees are set out in statutory instruments including S.I. No. 278 of 1987, which sets out the principal fees for the registration of events and the issue of certificates. In particular and limited circumstances a registrar may issue a certificate which is compiled from an entry in a register, in which amendments have been made, and the fees for such certificates are set out in S.I. 234 of 1987. A review of these fees is ongoing.