Public consultation on Revision of Death Registration Process

The Department of Social Protection invites submissions from interested parties to participate in a public consultation on proposals to revise the current process for notifying and registering deaths.

The loss of a close relative is a particularly difficult time for families. They may have to complete a number of legal formalities, including the registration of the death. For many deaths, the family member, or members, who take charge of the funeral and other arrangements will arrange for timely registration. Regrettably, this is not always the case.

Each year some 32,000 people die in Ireland. The manner and time it takes to register deaths has been highlighted in recent months, particularly with respect to the need for timely death data in supporting public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data to allow for timely reporting on deaths occurring and for timely estimates of the excess deaths to be monitored are not available from public administrative sources as they are across a range of international comparator countries.

The General Register Office has been tasked with developing proposals to address deficiencies in the current death registration process. A Working Group consisting of representatives of a number of agencies has developed proposals and wishes to consult with those with an interest before final proposals are made to, and considered by the government.

Before making any submission please review the privacy information below.

This is a public consultation and the Freedom of Information Act 2014 applies.

Contributors to this consultation should note that all responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts, the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/67 and the Data Protection Act 2018 and may be published by the Department of Social Protection in their entirety.

Personal information should not be provided and any personal information which you volunteer may be published. Any material which you do not wish to be made public should not be included.

Material or information that is regarded as commercially sensitive by you should not be included.

However, if you provide it you should clearly identify the material and the reason for its sensitivity and why it should not be published or made available under the Freedom of Information Act. In the event of a request under the Freedom of Information Act, the department will consult with respondents about information identified as commercially sensitive before making a decision on such a request.

The department’s Privacy Statement

• the information provided in your submission will be shared with members of the Working Group consisting of representative of the Department of Health, Department of Justice, Coroner Service and the HSE, with any personal data redacted
• the department may publish the outcome of the reviews and submissions received under this consultation on gov.ie, and a full list of those who make submissions will be made available where a request is received. Any personal data will be redacted
• any non-personal information received by the department included in submissions may be released under the FOI Act. Should a request for this information be made, the department will consult with you before making a decision should it be required to disclose it. Again, any personal data would be redacted in line with FOI legislation
• submissions will be retained until the review process, including the implementation of any accepted recommendations has been concluded

The Department of Social Protection welcomes submissions in general on this issue and, in particular, respondents are requested to consider the specific questions on page 12 of the Consultation Document.

Respondents are requested to make their submissions in writing or by email. Submissions should be sent by email to gro@welfare.ie – using the word “Consultations” in the subject line.

Submissions can be posted to:

Submissions should be received in the GRO by Monday 12 April 2021. Please take account of this when sending submissions by post.