2627. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost to the State to date of the interim arrangement for the provision of coronial post-mortems at University Hospital Waterford by locum pathologists sourced from the UK; the breakdown of costs relating to professional fees, flights, accommodation, transport and agency or contractual charges; and the projected annual cost if the arrangement continues. [63901/26]

The post-mortem examination service, which supports the work of the Coroner Service, is supported by several departments and agencies. My Department is responsible for the legislation underpinning the work of coroners, while the provision of the post-mortem examination service is largely provided through the health service and its personnel. Where a post-mortem examination is deemed to be required, the coroner will arrange for it to be conducted as expeditiously as possible in order to ensure the timely release of remains to the deceased’s next of kin.

Securing the provision of the post-mortem examination service for the coronial death investigation function is challenging and I have been engaging with the Minister for Health to address this. There are issues arising within the pathology profession, including relating to training and recruitment, as well as competing demands on pathologists in areas of diagnostic and research work. I acknowledge those concerns.

The situation in University Hospital Waterford (UHW) reached a critical juncture in January this year when pathologists employed at that location indicated that they were no longer available to carry out post-mortem examinations. Coroner directed post-mortem examinations for counties Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, and Tipperary are carried out in UHW.

My Department has introduced a short-term solution where locum pathologists are providing a coronial post-mortem examination service on a three-day per week rota since 1 January in UHW. This approach is necessary to minimise any impact on bereaved family members who would otherwise experience lengthy wait times for the release of remains which are the subject of coroners’ inquiries. However, the use of locum pathologists to conduct coroner directed post-mortem examinations is not a long-term solution to these issues and my Department is aware that a more sustainable solution is required in this regard.

My Department engaged with a number of potential providers to secure an appropriate solution for University Hospital Waterford and, following an evaluation of several options, entered into a contract for service provision. The annual cost to the Exchequer is largely dependent on the number of post-mortem examinations conducted and, as a consequence, details of contractual arrangements are commercially sensitive. Therefore, my Department does not publish details of contractual arrangements on the basis that it could place the State at a disadvantage in other commercial negotiations.