Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 95: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the computerisation and decentralisation programme in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15996/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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By way of background I should point out that civil registration was first introduced in the Ireland in 1845, initially for the civil registration of non-Roman Catholic marriages. The system was extended in 1864 to include the registration of births, deaths and Roman Catholic marriages.

The General Register Office is responsible for the administration of the civil registration system nationally and is the central repository for all records relating to the registration of births, deaths, marriages, domestic adoptions and stillbirths. The office also provides services directly to clients on the recognition in Ireland of divorces obtained in foreign jurisdictions and on genealogical research.

Recognising the importance of civil registration and the need to introduce measures aimed at improving the civil registration system, Government approved the modernisation of the registration system as a joint programme between the Departments of Health and Children and Social and Family Affairs.

The modernisation programme included the design of new business processes and procedures, the introduction of modern technology, the capture and storage in electronic format of all historical paper based records, and the reform of the legislation governing registration to underpin the delivery of services to meet the needs of a modern society and to facilitate the wider e-government agenda.

Part of the modernisation programme includes a major project to create an electronically searchable database of the indices to live event records. From a research perspective the creation of an electronic database of indices, which is a work in progress, will facilitate easier and more efficient record searches. It will also facilitate the extension of the availability of the indices beyond the single physical repository of the public research facility of the General Register Office itself to the various offices nationwide where civil registration services are provided.

It is accepted that the existing public research facility itself is less than ideal from the perspective of both the user and the frontline staff who provide the service. The particular requirements of researchers are being taken into account in the context of the overall modernisation programme. An enlarged, dedicated and greatly enhanced facility capable of responding to the needs of customers is envisaged as is an increase in the number of appropriately trained staff at all levels to facilitate the continued development of services. Planning for this development is under way.

The General Register Office, with the exception of its public research facility which remains in Joyce House, Dublin 2, relocated to Roscommon on 11 April last. The relocation move is in line with Government policy on the decentralisation of Departments to locations outside the capital. It is a policy which enjoys widespread support, particularly among the receiving communities, and is of benefit to members of staff both personally and professionally.

The cost associated with the modernisation programme thus far has been of the order of €20 million. The programme is recognised nationally and internationally as an example of the use of information technology noteworthy for the originality of its conception and, in particular, for the significance of its benefits to society. It has received numerous awards including winner of the European innovation awards 2003, sponsored by The Wall Street Journal.

A modernisation programme of such scope, coupled with decentralisation, poses significant challenges but I am satisfied that substantial benefits have accrued from the reforms implemented to date, and that services will continue to improve as the reform programme is rolled out.

Where the parents of a child are not married to each other, section 7 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland) 1880, as amended by the Status of Children Act 1987, sets out the manner in which the birth of a child may be registered to include the father's details, as follows: At the joint request of the mother and the father. In this case both parents are required to attend together at the relevant registrar's office to jointly sign the birth register; at the request of the mother on production of a declaration by her naming the father. This form must be accompanied by a statutory declaration by the father acknowledging paternity. In this case the mother is required to attend the relevant registrar's office to sign the birth register; at the request of the father on production of a declaration by him acknowledging paternity. This form must be accompanied by a statutory declaration by the mother naming that person as the father of the child. In this case the father is required to attend the relevant registrar's office to sign the birth register; at the written request of the father or the mother on production of a certified copy of any court order, guardianship of infants or maintenance including affiliation, or under section 215 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1981, naming the father of the child. In this case the parent making the request is required to attend the relevant registrar's office to sign the birth register.