Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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22. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will oversee the discontinuation of the grossly insensitive practice of charging parents for birth and death certificates in respect of stillborn infants or infants who die soon after birth; if she accepts that this is ultimately her responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5012/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A stillborn birth or the death of an infant soon after birth is a very sad event for the parents and extended family and I am very aware of the suffering and heartbreak which the death of a new born or a stillborn birth brings on the family.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the day to day running of the Civil Registration Service and monies generated by the HSE for this service are used to offset the cost of providing the service.

The fee for a copy of an entry (e.g. birth/death/stillbirth certificate) from the registers maintained by An t-Árd Chláratheoir is prescribed by regulation made by the Minister under section 61 of the Civil Registration Act 2004.

The fee for such a certificate is currently set at €20 as set out in the Civil Registration (Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnership) (Fees) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 502 of 2015) which came into force on 10 November 2015.

Where a certificate is required for Social Welfare purposes it may be purchased at a reduced cost.