Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I would like to express my condolences to the family concerned on their loss, and I am sorry to hear of the challenging circumstances described and the distress it has caused.

The coroners service comprises the network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. All coronial districts, with the exception of Dublin, are the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority. Coroners are independent office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department has any function in the conduct by a Coroner of their statutory function.

I recognise the significance and sensitivity of the inquest process for loved ones of the bereaved, and that delays in holding inquests can cause distress for families of the deceased.

A decision to direct a post mortem examination and / or hold an Inquest in to the death of a person, in any particular set of circumstances, rests with the individual coroner.

My Department has direct responsibility for providing financial and administrative support (including staff) to the Dublin District Coroner’s Office (DDCO) since 1st January 2018. Last year, I significantly increased the administrative supports to the DDCO, and officials in my Department are continuing to work closely with colleagues in the Public Appointments Service to secure additional staff in the DDCO, particularly at the Court Registrar grade.

I understand that delays in concluding Coroners death investigations are very upsetting for bereaved families, and my officials will continue to focus on putting the necessary resources in place with a view to improving the service provided to the public.

As the Deputy may be aware, 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, which 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. One Strand of the Consultation focused on the delivery of the pathology service for Coroner directed Post Mortem Examinations. 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.