Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1184. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the number of coroners and deputy coroners, respectively, in the State; the salary paid to coroners and deputy coroners, by county, in tabular form; the way coroners are appointed in each area; the qualifications required; the way deputy coroners are appointed; the criteria for selection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13929/21]
View answer1185. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the number of coroner's inquests in 2019 and 2020 in counties Louth, Mayo and Wicklow, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13930/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1184 and 1185 together.
There are currently 34 coroners in 39 coronial districts, with 37 deputy coroners in place. The names of coroners, their deputies and the coronial districts they act in are published and available on the website www.coroners.ie.
Coroners are appointed by the local authority, with the following three exceptions:
- The coroner for the coroner’s district of Dublin is appointed by the Minister for Justice.
- Where a vacancy arises in a particular coronial district, and that district falls within a local authority’s area where there is more than one coronial district, the Minister for Justice may, (following consultation with the local authority) direct another coroner from the same local authority area to assume the coronial duties of the vacant office. If the Minister issues such a direction, the coronial districts will be deemed to have been amalgamated. The coroners consent to act in the amalgamated district is required. (Section 32 (7)(1 & 2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2011.
- The Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020, contained amendments to the Coroners Act 1962 to provide, should the appropriate need arise in the opinion of a coroner, for the capability for a rapid increase in coronial capacity for a fixed period, by the temporary assignment or appointment of an additional coroner, to work concurrently with the existing coroner for a district. These appointments are limited to a 6 month time frame, and Ministerial approval is required for any extension of this period. To date, two such appointments have been made, one in Kildare and one in Meath.
Section 8 (3)(e) of the Coroners Act 1962, provides that every person to be recommended for appointment to the office of coroner shall be selected by the Local Appointments Commissioners.
The legal requirements for a person to be appointed as a coroner or a deputy coroner are also set out in the legislation. No person shall be appointed to be a coroner or a deputy coroner unless he/she is a practising barrister of at least five years' standing, a practising solicitor of at least five years' standing or a registered medical practitioner who has been registered, other than provisionally or temporarily, under the Medical Practitioners Acts, 1927 to 1961, in the Register of Medical Practitioners for Ireland, or who has been entitled to be so registered, for at least five years.
Section 13 (1) of the 1962 Act, provides that each coroner shall appoint a deputy coroner. Such deputy coroner appointments must be approved by the relevant local authority and, following a statutory amendment in 2011, by the Minister for Justice. Under section 13(4)(a) of the Act, a person appointed a deputy coroner may act for the coroner during the illness or absence of the coroner or where, for example, the office of coroner is vacant. A deputy coroner acting as coroner has all the duties and powers of a coroner. In addition, a person who is appointed a deputy coroner must fulfil the requirements for appointment as a coroner. Deputy coroners do not receive a retainer, and are paid on a fee per item as outlined below.
Payments are made to Coroners by the Local Authority with responsibility for each District, with the exception of Dublin, on the basis of a basic retainer and a fee per item as set out below. The Dublin Senior Coroner receives an annual retainer of €25,000 and the Cork City coroner receives an annual retainer of €44,152.
Retainer
Grade 1 - €21,744.00
Grade 2 - €17,932.00
Grade 3 - €12,807.00
Fee per case
Death reported - €129.68
Deaths certified following post mortem - €188.54
Death certified following post mortem and inquest - €522.97
The figures for annual retainers incorporate staffing, accommodation and general office costs. The annual returns completed by each coroner in respect of 2020, can be found under the ‘Publications’ section on www.coroners.ie.
The table below sets out the data requested by the Deputy on the number of inquests held in counties Louth, Mayo and Wicklow in 2019 and 2020.
|
Number of inquests held |
Louth |
Mayo |
Wicklow |
|
2019 |
54 |
71 |
38 |
|
2020 |
13 |
52 |
38 |
