Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Offices.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

237 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to ensure that members of the public do not have to continue to queue in the street while seeking certificates from his Department's offices in Lombard Street; and if he will extend the hours of opening to include lunchtime to convenience members of the public (details supplied). [19220/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I am happy to inform the Deputy that there are currently no queues for services outside Joyce House 8-11 Lombard St. East, Dublin 2, during opening hours. However, I am aware that the queues for services outside the registration offices have presented difficulties earlier this year and I regret the inconvenience to the people concerned. The administration of the registration system, including the services and facilities provided at Joyce House, is statutorily a matter for An tArd Chláraitheoir (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 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 experienced a very high level of demand for certificates at certain times earlier this year, which was the primary cause of the queues outside the building.

Measures have been taken to improve the situation. The Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of the Superintendent Registrar's Office, has secured a lease on a premises adjoining the offices in Lombard Street and the planning of the necessary refurbishment to provide suitable accommodation for registrars of births, deaths and marriages has been completed. The board provided eight additional staff in the Superintendent Registrar's Office earlier this year to increase rate of production of certficates and this improved the situation although it did not totally eradicate the queues on the busiest days.

In addition, my Department made accommodation available in Joyce House to facilitate the move of registrars of births, deaths and marriages to more spacious accommodation on the third floor of the buidling. This ensured a greater level of privacy and comfort to people registering births and deaths. This move also vacated space on the ground floor of the Superintendent Registrar's Office and facilitated the extension of the waiting area in that office. It will be appreciated that these measures considerably improved matters for the public attending at Joyce House. The possible extension of opening hours to include lunchtime opening is under discussion with the staff interests involved.