26 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health the number of registry offices that are licensed to perform marriage ceremonies; and the locations of these offices. [4942/96]

Limerick East): The administration of the registration system for marriages is a matter for An t-Árd Chláraitheoir (Registrar-General) of Births, Deaths and Marriages and for local Registrars who operate under his general direction. The duties of registrars of marriages appointed in accordance with the Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844 include the taking of notice of marriage, the solemnisation of and the registration of marriages. Each registrar is required under the marriages act to maintain an office within his-her designated district and there are currently 30 such districts within the State. The registrars districts and the location of the offices within the districts are given in the following table. In many cases the boundaries of the district and the county boundaries coincide. Where a county is broken into two or more districts, each district is listed separately.

List of Registrars by County

(This list is correct as at March 1996 but is subject to change without notice)