Vol. 490 No. 4
48 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to reduce the long delays for people seeking birth, marriage and death certificates from the General Register Office at Joyce House, Dublin 2, as a result of which members of the public have to queue in the street for long periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10186/98]
I am aware that the queues for services outside Joyce House have been considerable in recent times and I regret the inconvenience to the persons concerned. As was indicated in the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday night, the administration of the registration system, including the services and facilities provided at Joyce House is statutorily a matter for an t-ard-chláraitheoir or registrar-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, Lombard Street, Dublin 2 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. This latter office in particular is currently experiencing a high level of demand for certificates which is the primary cause of the long queues outside the building and is also giving rise to delays in processing postal applications for certificates by that office.
While the General Register Office is operating a normal service to personal callers, there is approximately a four week delay in responding to postal applications for certificates in relation to current events with a longer delay in respect of applications for entries in the registers prior to 1900.
