Pádraig Rice
Ceist:127. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason his Department does not fund the Cork City Coroners (details supplied). [69174/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 30 September 2026
Ceisteanna (127, 128)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:128. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to identify the coroners services that are funded by his Department; and the corners services that are funded by local authorities. [69173/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together.
The Coroner Service comprises a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Responsibility, including financial support, for the Coroner Service has been a matter for local authorities since the introduction of the modern coroner system. Responsibility for the provision of financial and administrative supports to the Dublin District Coroner’s Office was transferred from Dublin City Council to my Department in 2018. Legislative change is required for the funding of the Coroner Service, outside Dublin, to be removed from the responsibility of local authorities.
In October 2024, Government approval was given to draft a general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service. As part of this work, my Department is examining ways to increase efficiencies and minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people. Department officials are currently working on drafting the Heads of Bill in this regard, with the aim of bringing them before Government in the coming months.
The proposed legislation to reform the Coroner Service will provide for a national coronial service to be centrally funded, thereby removing the responsibility for coronial services outside of the Dublin area from the local authorities. It will also provide for the establishment of an independent Office of the Chief Coroner, the appointment of full-time salaried coroners, and the discontinuation of the existing fee-based system.
A restructured and modernised Coroner Service will drive consistency and assist coroners to better meet the needs of bereaved people, through the provision of enhanced ICT, administrative, and family liaison supports.
Question No. 128 answered with Question No. 127.