Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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88. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the disruption which has occurred to the issuing of a certification of birth, PPS numbers and so on, for newly born children; the steps that are being taken to resolve the issues; and the provision that is being made in cases in which such certification is urgently needed. [36640/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The HSE is responsible for registering births and issuing certificates once registration has been completed. The recent cyber-attack on HSE computer systems had a significant impact on the delivery of civil registration services with registration of births suspended for 4 weeks. The cyber-attack also resulted in the suspension of the delivery of electronic birth notifications from maternity hospitals in Dublin to the Civil Registration Service.

I can confirm for the Deputy that birth registrations have resumed and that PPSNs are allocated automatically 24 hours following registration of a child's birth. I understand the HSE is currently working to address any backlogs that have resulted from the suspension of its services.

The Registrar General has informed me that urgent cases, if brought to the attention of the relevant HSE superintendent registrar, will be expedited.