Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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456. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to address the difficulty persons in County Wicklow are experiencing in accessing walk-in appointments for birth registrations and birth certificates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53968/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has responsibility for the delivery of civil registration services under the Civil Registration Act 2004. I am aware of and concerned about the waiting times to register births and other life events and the impact this has on families seeking to access social welfare payments.

Resourcing and performance of the civil registration services, as with other matters relating to the HSE, are matters for the Minister for Health and the Board of the HSE.

Once a child's birth has been registered, the Department of Social Protection will allocate a PPSN within 48 hours and notify the parents. Applications to or adjustment to child benefit payments are automatically triggered following allocation of the PPSN. Arrears are paid quickly in all cases where they arise.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.