Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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1329. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of the delay for families to receive death certificates (details supplied); the steps he is taking to reduce this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59369/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Coroners are independent office holders, whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. I am advised that a coronial death investigation can take a number of months, depending on whether a postmortem is required and thereafter if an inquest is to be held into the death.

Depending on the circumstances of the death, a post-mortem examination may be deemed necessary by the Coroner, and is carried out by a pathologist or, in forensic cases, by the Office of the State Pathologist. A coroner’s investigation into a death may be finalised upon receipt of the post-mortem report. A post-mortem report can, however, take several months to be received by the coroner’s office, depending on the time taken for specialised tests (including toxicology) to be completed.

A coroner may be required by legislation to hold an inquest into certain deaths or may decide to hold an inquest into a death. The holding of certain inquests are dependent on a number of factors such as receipt by the coroner of a final post-mortem report from a pathologist, or the outcome of an ongoing investigation by An Garda Síochána or other statutory bodies (such as the Health Service Executive, Fiosrú, the Inspector of Prisons, or the Health and Safety Authority).

Inquests may also be unable to proceed when the coroner is awaiting information from a family, their legal representatives, or other interested parties. A decision to hold an inquest and, thereafter, any decision in respect of the operation of the inquest must rest entirely with the individual coroner. However, where a death cannot be registered with the Civil Registration Service, the coroner can provide an Interim Death Certificate. The certificate is not provided for in statute but may be of assistance to next of kin when dealing with the Department of Social Protection, Probate (Wills) Office, An Post, banks, and other financial institutions. They will not normally be accepted for the purposes of insurance policies, where a final death certificate is usually required.

My Department recognises the significance and sensitivity of the coronial investigation process for loved ones of a person who has died suddenly or in an unexplained way. In October 2024, Government approval was given to draft a general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service, to increase efficiencies and minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people.

Department officials are currently developing Heads of Bill, with the aim of bringing this to Government in late 2025. A restructured and modernised Coroner Service will drive consistency and will assist coroners to better meet the needs of bereaved people, through the provision of enhanced ICT, administrative and family liaison supports.