Helen McEntee

Ministers yesterday approved the drafting of the Coroners Amendment Bill 2023, which aims to ease pressure on the Coroner Service while plans for more fundamental reform are developed.

There are currently 34 coroners covering 37 districts across the State, most of whom work as solicitors, barristers or doctors and carry out their coroner function in addition to these roles.

Until recently, Dublin had one coroner and one deputy coroner. An additional two coroners were appointed in 2021 under temporary provisions associated with the pandemic.

However, the Dublin district is still struggling with a backlog of cases, with families now typically waiting two years for an inquest to be heard.

Justice minister Helen McEntee said: “My Department is currently increasing resources to support the work of coroners in the Dublin district. The government is acutely aware of the impact that delays in hearing inquests has on bereaved families and loved ones.

“The proposed Coroners (Amendment) Bill will ensure that an appropriate number of coroners can be recruited to continue to operate in the Dublin district and ensure that additional temporary coroners can be appointed to the Dublin district and other districts if required.”

She added: “The bill must be considered against the backdrop of a much more comprehensive reform of the coroner’s system.

“Pending reform of the coroner’s system a number of interim legislative measures are needed to ensure the seamless continuance of coroner operations. The Coroners (Amendment) Act 2023 will provide for the measures anticipated.

“Last week I launched a public consultation on gov.ie/justice to seek views, observations and proposals on how the Coroner Service might be reformed into the future.

“Understanding the experience of those who have interacted with the coronial system is critical in informing any changes that need to be made, and I would urge as many people as possible to take part.”

The public consultation will run until 19 January 2024, after which proposals on a renewed coroner system, including a proposed plan as to how this will be achieved, will be brought to government.