Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting time for cases to be heard at each of the country's coroner courts in tabular form; the number of cases currently awaiting hearing at each court; the number of vacant coroner positions in each coroner's court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13815/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have no role with regard to the conduct of death investigations, including inquests held by coroners. The coroner, as an independent quasi-judicial officer, is solely responsible in that regard. While I am assured that coroners endeavour to hold inquests as expeditiously as possible, a variety of factors and circumstances - often outside the coroner's control - may sometimes cause delay. These would include the receipt by the coroner of the results of the post-mortem examination, the receipt by the coroner of results of any tests carried out as part of the post-mortem process and the question of whether or not a criminal prosecution is being considered.

In these circumstances it is not possible to give an average time frame with regard to the opening or final determination of an inquest.

My Department does not hold information with regard to the number of inquests awaiting determination.

There are no current vacancies with regard to appointments to coroner jurisdictions under the provisions of the 1962 Coroners Act.