Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Apr 1937

Vol. 66 No. 4

Committee on Finance. - Vote 42—General Register Office.

Minister for Local Government and Public Health (Mr. O Ceallaigh)

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £8,345 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1938, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí Oifig Ard-Chlárathóra na mBeireataisí, etc. (7 agus 8 Vict., c. 81, a. 54; 26 Vict., c. 11, a. 9, agus c. 27; 26 agus 27 Vict., c. 52, a. 11, agus c. 90, a. 20; 42 agus 43 Vict., c. 70; agus 43 agus 44 Vict., c. 13).

That a sum not exceeding £8,345 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1938, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Registrar-General of Births, etc. (7 and 8 Vict., c. 81, s. 54; 26 Vict., c. 11, s. 9, and c. 27; 26 and 27 Vict., c. 52, s. 11, and c. 90, s. 20; 42 and 43 Vict., c. 70; and 43 and 44 Vict., c. 13).

Mr. Dillon

The Minister will recognise that the old age pensioners have experienced practically a martyrdom since the old age pension legislation was brought in, in trying to get their ages, because prior to 1851 there was no considerable registration. Then we came to the time when the registers were pretty complete, but found to our dismay that, in the early stages, a great many children were not registered at all. Apparently, the reason for that was that, in certain areas, vaccination was coming in at that time and parents would not notify the doctor, who was the registrar, of the child's birth for fear he would insist on vaccinating it. In those days it was vaccination from child to child, and the country people objected to it. The result was that there were large areas where children were not vaccinated, and, consequently, their names cannot be got now. Could we not make a survey now, or a rule, to the effect that if a person's name is not on the register at all that he will be deemed to be over 70? The registers are complete from 1851. Could we not say now that, if a person obviously over 60 years of age is not found to be on the register, he will be assumed to be a person who is over 70? I do not believe that if my suggestion were carried out it would involve the Minister's Department in £10,000 a year, but it would remove a load from the old age pensioner's back, and, to be perfectly honest, it would remove several loads from the average T.D.'s back who is driven mad by this question.

Mr. O Ceallaigh

I will have the question examined.

Vote put and agreed to.