Ó An Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitúil agus Oidhreachta
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Mr. Eoghan Murphy, T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government today published a report on the Coroner Service in local authorities.
The report is the latest in a series of reviews produced by the Value for Money Unit of the Local Government Audit Service, which carries out VFM studies with a view to identifying best practice and recommending ways of improving existing procedures, practices and systems and thereby promoting efficiency and cost effectiveness. The Local Government Audit Service of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is responsible for the external audit of all local authorities.
As part of its brief, the VFM Unit has been working closely with the local authority sector in reviewing the Coroner Service in local authorities. The study focused on the management and oversight of the Coroner Service at the local authority level, from the appointment of the coroner and their related expenditure, together with the costs of the other support services that are required by the coroners in performance of their duties.
As the Department of Justice and Equality has primary responsibility for policy and legislation with regard to coroners, the study also involved wide consultation and assistance from staff in the Department of Justice and Equality. The current legislation that governs the activities of coroners is the Coroners Act 1962. Local authorities now perform functions across a wide range of sectors which come within the remit of a number of different government departments and state agencies, including the Coroner Service.
Coroners are independent office holders charged with the legal responsibility for the investigation of sudden, unexplained, violent and unnatural deaths in his or her district. Local authorities fund the operation of the Coroner Service in each district from their own resources as there is no central funding for the financing of this service.
The report provides detailed data analysis on the actual expenditure incurred by all 31 local authorities over a three year period. It highlights areas for improvement and makes recommendations on best practice for the reform of existing procedures, practices and systems, thereby promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the management and oversight of the Coroner Service in local authorities.
Findings and Recommendations
Annual Returns - Administration and Liaison with the Department of Justice and Equality - Standard template invoicing system using the coroner annual returns information.
Coroner Remuneration - Fee and Retainer rates have not been updated since 2003 and 2009.
Procurement of Funeral and Undertaking services - Lack of compliance with procurement rules
The Minister commented that “I have asked the Value for Money Unit of the Local Government Audit Service to monitor the implementation, by local authorities, of the recommendations in this report relevant to them.”