Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on a number of issues. The Coroner Service comprises a network of coroners in districts throughout the country and a coroner is an independent office holder. The Department of Justice has direct responsibility for providing financial and administrative support to the Dublin District Coroner's Office since January 2018. Outside Dublin, the relevant local authorities fund the costs of all other coronial districts.

The Minister recognises the significance and sensitivity of the coronial investigation process for loved ones of the bereaved. Neither the Minister nor the Department can interfere with a coroner in the exercise of his or her statutory death investigation function. A decision to direct a post-mortem examination or to hold an inquest must rest entirely with the individual coroner.

The Minister is aware of the increasing challenges in securing histopathologists for a number of reasons to carry out coroner-directed post mortem examinations. The Department established a standing committee on coroner-directed post mortem examinations in 2022, which is tasked with considering the core issues involved in the provision of a sustainable pathology service to coroners.

Following a consultation process on the reform of the Coroner Service, the Department has received approval from Government to draft the general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service in order to increase efficiencies and minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people. The heads of Bill, which will be brought to Government this year, aim to address all aspects of the Coroner Service, including establishment of an independent office of the chief coroner, who will be responsible for setting standards, providing guidance and overseeing the activities of full-time salaried coroners, a model in line with best practice internationally.

In recognition of the time required to prepare and progress a replacement to the Coroners Act 1962, as amended, through the Houses, the Coroners (Amendment) Act 2024 was signed into law in February last year. This Act made provision for the assignment and appointment of temporary coroners where workload demands warrant such assignment. This ensures that there will be adequate coronial provision in all districts pending the reform of the service. As mentioned, the Department of Justice has direct responsibility for the Dublin coroner's district and the Minister has utilised powers conferred on him in the Act to ensure that an appropriate number of coroners are in place to address waiting times for bereaved families.

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