Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the probate application waiting times by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31715/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Probate Office is an office of the High Court and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices. 

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that waiting times in the Dublin Probate Office for a Grant of Probate are currently 5 weeks for applications made by solicitors on behalf of clients and 10 weeks for personal applications.

Probate Application Waiting Times by County

As the Deputy is aware, all applications are assessed on the basis of the date on which they are lodged, an approach which provides fairness and equity to all applicants. Priority is given to probate applications where there is a particular urgency or in extenuating circumstances. In such cases, it is open to applicants to bring the matter to the attention of the Probate Office.

As the Deputy will appreciate all applications for Grants in deceased persons' estates are made on foot of a number of mandatory legal documents which must be furnished by the applicants. These require detailed checking by the Probate Office to ensure that the estate of the deceased person is administered correctly and in accordance with the law. Where a person opts to apply for a Grant personally, without the assistance of a solicitor, the process requires significant extra support from the Probate Office. 

As the Deputy may be aware, the Courts Service has recently completed a review of the delivery of probate services and a plan is now being developed to implement the recommendations on a phased basis. The Report has been forwarded to my Department and published on the Courts Service Website.