Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise a very difficult issue that has affected many families over the last number of months in the north Dublin region. I refer to the remains of loved ones being released from the coroner service following a post mortem. Post mortems are required following the death of some people but arising from what appears to be the temporary closure of the mortuary in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, there is a backlog and hence a significant delay in the releasing of bodies by the coroner service, which is based in Whitehall in my own constituency. This is something that affects people right across north Dublin and I have been contacted by families from right across the area.

The challenge this presents is, in the first instance, to funeral directors who are trying to manage the progression of remains to allow families to bury them peacefully. It also presents a challenge for family members themselves. Ireland has a custom of being able to put people to rest with relative ease but instead of a two- or three-day delay following a post mortem, in some cases remains have been in a mortuary for more than two weeks. This causes real anxiety when families are waiting for two or two and a half weeks to bury their loved ones. Often people will have travelled home from abroad to be with their loved one before he or she passed away. They then have to remain here for much longer than they would have expected. As I said, these delays are a difficulty for funeral undertakers, for families and for people travelling but especially for partners, husbands or wives who cannot lay their loved one to rest and move on.

I do not expect the Minister of State to have all of the answers this evening. The coroner service is the responsibility of the local authority. I was a member of Dublin City Council for ten years and am very proud of the service provided by the coroner. If there are issues with resources or with adjoining facilities not being available, we need to put in place some sort of contingency or redundancy plan. I understand that the facility at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown has been reopened but we must have some contingency in the system that will allow for an overflow.

A funeral director told me that there were four remains being dealt with each day and that as a result, one family was told that it was number 18 or 19 on the list. They are not terms that any family wants to hear following the death of a loved one. I ask the Minister of State to bring my concerns back to the Government to try to ascertain what is happening and why families are experiencing these very unreasonable delays.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist seo a ardú. I would like to convey the apologies of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who regrets she cannot be here for this matter due to another commitment. On behalf of the Minister, I would like to thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this important matter. As he said, it is very distressing for families to deal with the loss of a loved one without having to deal with something like this too. It certainly does not help with the grieving process for families.

The coroner service comprises a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. This is an important public service to the living and in particular to the next of kin and friends of the deceased. Coroners not only provide closure for those who are bereaved, but also perform a wider public service by identifying matters of public health and safety concern. While the Department of Justice does not have a role in directing the work of the coroner and cannot comment on individual cases, it does actively support coroners in carrying out their statutory functions.

The Department is aware of the increased pressure of work being experienced by all coroners due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It has to be said that Dublin is the busiest coronial district and specifically in regard to the situation in the district, the Department has appointed three coroners to the district at the request of the senior Dublin coroner. It is understood that the Dublin coroner and her team are working to facilitate inquests and work through backlogs.

The direction of a post mortem examination, as provided for in legislation, is solely a matter for the coroner concerned and the Minister for Justice has no function in this regard.

The coroner concerned will normally arrange the post-mortem examination as expeditiously as possible. Depending on the circumstances of the death, a post-mortem examination will be carried out by a pathologist or, in forensic cases, by the Office of the State Pathologist. Responsibility for the provision of non-forensic pathology services lies with the Health Service Executive or the individual hospital concerned. Coroners will endeavour to have post-mortem examinations completed as soon as is possible and practicable to ensure timely release of remains to the next-of-kin of the deceased.

The Deputy has described a case where families are being told they are 18th or 19th on a list. It is an issue that needs to be addressed. We need to speed up that process for families. It should happen in a timely manner. The issues raised by the Deputy need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that the response outlined by the Minister of State on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, outlines that three additional staff will be provided to the Coroner Service. That is welcome. It will help to deal with the delay. The response references the pandemic and the impact of it. While we lost many people during that time, this issue only arise this February, March and now into April. We came through the pandemic without those delays, but they are arising now. I believe this is connected to the closure of the mortuary at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown and the overall pressure on the Coroner Service. I appreciate the Minister would have to investigate those matters, but regardless of that we need to look at what contingencies and provisions are in the service to allow for an increase in demand. Whatever else may happen at the Coroner Service, where I know huge work is done, a delay for families of the order of two to two and half weeks is unacceptable.

I will not delay the House any further. I appreciate the response provided to me by the Minister of State and the commitment that the Government has made to improve the service. I ask that it would continue to address this matter, including the provisions for contingency which I have outlined.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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As stated previously, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has no role in the timing and conduct of post-mortem examinations. The direction of post-mortem examinations is solely a matter for the coroner concerned. However, the Department of Justice has appointed three coroners to the Dublin district to actively support the Coroner Service in carrying out its statutory functions. This should have a positive impact. According to the statutory annual returns, as required under section 55 of the Coroner Act, as amended, there were just over 2,400 post-mortem examinations carried out at the request of the Dublin Coroner's Office in 2021. It is understood that the Dublin District Coroner and her team are currently working to facilitate inquests, to work through the backlogs and, thereby, to provide closure for those bereaved.

I hope this provides some clarity to the Deputy. As I said, it is critically important that we address this issue. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, will take on board the concerns raised by the Deputy this evening.