|
|
Donaghey seeks coroner policy
shift
24.02.10
A BUNCRANA councillor
has requested a review of the coroner's service that
costs the local authority €200,000 a year.
Cllr Rena Donaghey recently tabled a motion at a
meeting of Donegal County Council asking that the
Minister for Environment Heritage and Local
Government be requested to review and revise current
arrangements for the funding and operation of the
coroner’s service.
"Currently, Donegal County Council contributes over
€200,000 per annum to this service for which we have
no management, input or responsibility," said Cllr
Donaghey. She asked that her motion be distributed
to all county councils throughout Ireland. |
The Cockhill-based
councillor said while overall responsibility for the
coroner's service rests with the Department of
Justice, under the terms of the Coroner’s Act, 1962,
the legal obligation to fund the service rests with
the relevant local authority.
"Consequently, Donegal County Council is currently
responsible for the payment of all fees and expenses
relating to post-mortems and inquests within the
county," she said.
She said the level of expenditure had increased on a
year to year basis but Donegal County Council did
not receive any direct |
 |
funding from the
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in
this regard.
"It should be noted, however, that these concerns
should not be taken that the Council has any
concerns with the manner in which the coroners in
Donegal are discharging their duties and
responsibilities," she stressed.
In December last, Cllr Donaghey asked Donegal County
Council to write to the Coroner's Service
Implementation Team at the Justice Department,
requesting the removal of the coroner's service from
the responsibilities of local authorities.
In its reply last month, the team stated there were
"no plans to change this responsibility in the near
future".
Cllr Donaghey yesterday said Donegal County Council
was conducting a review of all areas of expenditure,
including the coroner's service, with a view to
reducing overall costs.
She asked that Donegal County Council seek a policy
change from Government on the matter and asked that
her motion be circulated, in the meantime, to all
other county councils in Ireland. |
|
