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Coroners Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Questions (928)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

928. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the two coronial districts of Tipperary north and Tipperary south; the number of cases dealt with by each coronial district nationally in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15253/20]

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Written answers

At present, there are 39 coronial districts in Ireland, served by 34 Coroners. Some of these coronial districts lie within the same county’s administrative area, such as Galway (3 coronial districts), Monaghan (2 coronial districts), Cork County (3 coronial districts), Kerry (3 coronial districts), Wicklow (2 coronial districts), Mayo (2 coronial districts -reduced from 3 coronial districts in 2016) Waterford (3 coronial districts) and Tipperary (2 coronial districts).

Section 7 of the Coroner's Act as amended by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2011 provides for the amalgamation of coronial districts by the Minister for Justice and Equality in consultation with the local authority concerned. This has happened previously in relation to a number of coronial districts, particularly upon the retirement of a coroner. The four coronial districts in Donegal were amalgamated to form one coronial district in the county, as were the coronial districts of Limerick City, Limerick West and Limerick South East.

As outlined in my response to Dáil Question 281, on 30 June 2020, due to the forthcoming retirement of the Coroner for Tipperary South on 25 June 2021, it has been agreed to amalgamate, by way of Section 7 of the Coroners Acts 1962 – 2019, the two Coronial Districts of Tipperary North and Tipperary South with effect from 25 June 2021. On that date, Mr Joseph P Kelly will become Coroner for the newly amalgamated Coronial District of Tipperary.

The number of cases dealt with by each coronial district nationally in the past five years can be found on the "Publications" tab on www.coroners.ie.

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