asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the long delays in gaining admission to the offices of the Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths and the action he intends to take to alleviate the matter.

29.

asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the long delays at the Pearse Street offices of the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths where applicants are forced to queue on the street and if he will ensure that adequate public office space and staff are provided to maintain a proper service.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.

I am aware of the delays which people have recently experienced in gaining admission to the office of the superintendent registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Pearse Street, Dublin. This has been caused by an unprecedented increase in the last few months in the demand for birth and marriage certificates.

I have been informed by the Eastern Health Board, that arrangements are being made as a matter of urgency which should obviate the necessity to queue at the office.

Could the Minister say if he has any plan to improve the office, to provide a new premises for this purpose or will it be located at this premises indefinitely?

There are two steps here, the first is the immediate alleviation of the situation and the second relates to future demands and needs. It is interesting to note the changes which are taking place which indicate a greater future demand. There has been a great increase in the demand for birth certificates for passports for large groups of school children going abroad on educational tours and for more people holidaying abroad in the winter. There has been an increased demand for marriage certificates in connection with the purchase or sale of houses by married couples required because of the provisions of the Family Homes (Protection) Act, 1976. There are also continuing social and community developments which keep demand at a high level. In the light of this I have made arrangements to have a study carried out at the Pearse Street office to determine what more long-term changes may be required.

Obviously the Minister is not aware that his colleague has put an end to the foreign educational tours. Maybe it is because they cannot get passports.

Question No. 30 has gone for written reply.

Is the Minister aware that many people have to queue for as long as three hours, that some have to go away and come back again, and that it takes three or four efforts to get into this office to get a certificate? Will the Minister take immediate steps to have something done so that people can be assured that they will get their certificate on the day on which they take the trouble to go to the office?

I have indicated that there has been an unprecedented expansion in the demand for the services of this office and I have been informed by the Eastern Health Board that arrangements are being made as a matter of urgency to obviate the need for queues.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister aware that the central office of births, deaths and marriages is referring applications to the county offices?

I trust that these would relate directly to the health board area.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Custom House, or wherever it is situated, are saying that they cannot cope and are referring applicants to apply to the provincial and county offices.

I will take note of the point.

Question No. 30 has gone for written reply and Question No. 31 has been postponed.