Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the witnesses for their participation. I have read the opening statements and other associated material and I was struck by how all of the witnesses have requested that proper resourcing be put in place.

I imagine from my own experience - I am in the north west, in the Sligo-Leitrim area - that it is very much an ad hocsystem run by the county councils. I believe that is one of the primary problems. I would be interested to hear how the witnesses feel that could be changed in a way that is adequate. Personally, I think it needs to go towards regionalisation, where a number of counties would come together and there would be a permanent, full-time and properly staffed and resourced coroner, and this would be done across the different parts of the country. Getting that part of it right would be one of the fundamental things we need to try to do.

Have the witnesses any sense of what the cost would be to the State, additional to the current cost? Ms O'Mahony mentioned that we do not know the full cost of the service. If we do not know the cost, we are not able to measure it. Do we have a measure of that? If we have, I would be delighted to get an assurance on that. What level of additional funding would it take to get that professionalisation put in place? Professor Cusack might want to answer on that.