Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 495: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo County Council in its adopted budget for 2012 provided a sum of €187,998 to cover the cost of the Operation of Morgue and Coroner expenses; if he deems that figure sufficient; if it has been brought to his attention that at a meeting of Sligo County Council on the 2 April 2012 the council by majority vote adopted a recommendation made by the County Manager to reduce the sum to €137,998; if he deems that figure sufficient to cover the costs of the operation of morgue and coroner expenses; the statutory obligations of a local authority in terms of the provision of funding for the operation of morgue and coroner expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31793/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Coroners Act, 1962 is the legislation governing all coronial matters. The Local Authority is aware that this service is an essential public service for the living, provided to the public and next of kin at a time of particular sensitivity and upset. Statutory Instrument number 155 of 2009 sets out on a statutory basis the various fees and expenses which are payable by the local authority in relation to the service. My Department is aware of the budgetary issue outlined by the Deputy. However, it has no function in relation to such budgets. While every public service is experiencing challenges with budgets, it is understood that the local authority is aware of its statutory obligations in this area.