Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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345. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is possible for a mother to change the name on her child’s birth certificate from her married name to her maiden name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50341/26]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The requirements for birth registration are contained in Part 3 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 (the Act), as amended.

Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Act sets out that the child’s surname shall be that of either, or both, parents. Where the surname chosen by the parent(s) is not their own, an application must first be made to the superintendent registrar who must be satisfied that the circumstances warrant registration of the surname chosen by the parents.

Once the birth has been so registered, there is no provision in legislaton for the surname to be changed at a later date. The surname chosen by the parents at the time the birth was registered can only be changed where the birth is being re-registered at a later date to include the father's details or following the marriage of the registered parents.