Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
491. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the legislation that outlines the time frame in which deaths must be reported; the current time frame; her plans to shorten same in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28309/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 5 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended, provides the legal framework for the registration of deaths. Currently, the obligation to register a death rests with the relatives of the deceased, or in their absence, other persons specified in the Act. A death must be registered within three months of the date of death. Other than the obligation to register a death, there are no other legal obligations to report a death to the Civil Registration Service. Specific arrangements are in place for the notification of certain deaths to a Coroner under the Coroners Acts.
Some four in every five deaths that are not referred to Coroners are registered within the three month timeframe. The manner and operation of the death registration process has been identified as an area requiring reform to ensure it meets with domestic and international public health and reporting requirements for life events. The General Register Office (GRO), which comes under aegis of my Department, is leading an inter-agency working group to modernise the way deaths are notified and subsequently registered. This work is timely as it coincides with recommendations made by the National Public Health Emergency Team to reduce the length of time between the date of death and registration.
The working group is finalising proposals which, following public and stakeholder engagement, will form the basis for legislative changes to the Civil Registration Act to be considered by the Government.
I have been informed by the GRO that the proposals emerging from the Working Group will focus on reducing the current timeframe for death registration and on introducing new mechanisms for the early notification and registration of deaths, including technological and process changes.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
