Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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368. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the report following the public consultation on reform of the Coroner’s Service in Ireland will be published; the number of submissions received to ‘consultation part 1’ and ‘consultation part 2'; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5492/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On 20 October 2023, I launched a wide-ranging consultation to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland. Public consultation closed on 19 January 2024.

The consultation provided an opportunity for members of the public, stakeholder groups and members of the Oireachtas to express their views, express observations and provide proposals on how the Coroner Service might be enhanced into the future.

My Department sought submissions in relation to four key areas:

• Structure and Roles;
• Pathology and Related Services;
• Reportable Deaths; and
• Inquests.

My Department has also established an Advisory Committee to support the consultation process. The Advisory Committee has held 3 meetings so far, with at least 1 more meeting scheduled. Members include representatives from the Department of Justice, the Coroners Society of Ireland, the Department of Health, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Local Authorities, the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána, the Office of the State Pathologist, the Royal College of Physicians - Faculty of Pathology, an independent expert, and two members of the public who have experience of engaging with the coroner service.

In order to reach as many interested parties as possible, officials from my Department sent more than 500 emails to individuals and stakeholder groups encouraging them to take part, including every member of the Oireachtas. As well as the surveys, my Department provided a specific email address for any party who wished to make a written submission. Department officials also held a large number of bilateral meetings with key stakeholders.

Links to the surveys were shared on my Department's social media channels a number of times throughout the consultation period, to further extend public awareness of the consultation.

I am pleased to say that there was a very high level of public engagement in the consultation process with approximately 250 submissions received across both surveys. Departmental officials are currently analysing the information gathered during the consultation process with a view to publishing a report in due course.

Further information on the public consultation is available on the Department’s website.