John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the lengthy delays being experienced by families with results awaited from the State pathology laboratory and ultimately the issuing of death certificates where a sudden death has occurred; if he will examine the matter and provide additional funding if necessary to ease the extra burden this places on family members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24320/04]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am conscious of the importance of service provided to coroners by the State Laboratory and the impact it inevitably has on relatives of people whose deaths are the subject of inquests at a time of great distress. The management of the laboratory share that sensitivity and constantly monitor the service by reviewing available resources, the possibilities for outsourcing and the complexity of analyses.

Additional resources have been allocated to the toxicology section and there has been a substantial increase in the number of analyses completed. However, there is still a backlog of cases, due to an increase of 50% in the past two years in the number of cases referred, and a general increase in the complexity of the analyses required. A range of measures are being taken at present to reduce the turnaround time of samples sent to the laboratory and processed by its toxicology section. Additional priority is to be given to the coroners' cases over other work of the section. Laboratory management are also reviewing the procedures and processes in the toxicology area with a view to automating as much as possible.

I am told by the management of the laboratory that the completion of the relocation to Backweston will enable the enhancement of the quality of service provided to all its clients, including the coroners' service.