Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason there is no probate officer for County Westmeath; as a consequence the lack of a probate officer is causing a delay in the courts service. [29673/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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There are 14 District Probate Registries located outside Dublin which are attached to Circuit Court Offices under the control of County Registrars who also carry out the function of District Probate Registrar. As the Deputy will be aware, the County Registrar for County Westmeath retired in April 2016 and since then I have approved a proposal to fill the County Registrar vacancy. Sanction to proceed with this appointment has recently been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the necessary preparations are being made in regard to the recruitment process which will be conducted by the Public Appointments Service in the near future.

The Courts Service has informed me that, since the retirement of the County Registrar for Westmeath, the duties have been exercised by the County Registrar for Cavan with assistance from other County Registrars and that there are no delays at present in regard to the District Probate Registry in County Westmeath.