TD seeks return of civil registration services to Offaly

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has called on the HSE and the Minister for Health to urgently restore full civil registration and HSE civil celebrant services in Offaly after the effective closure of the local HSE office has left couples with no choice but to leave the county or pay substantial private fees.

Issues affecting the Tullamore office have been ongoing for at least two years with no resolution in sight.

According to Deputy Nolan, with no HSE civil celebrants available for new applicants in Offaly, venues across the county have reported that couples are now being forced to travel to other counties simply to register their marriages.

The Deputy said she has made aware of recent cases include one Offaly couple who were directed to Limerick along with a number of others.

“Offaly couples should not have to leave their own county to get married or be hit with an extra €500 bill for a private celebrant because the HSE has failed to replace staff who retired over two years ago,” said Deputy Nolan.

“The current situation is totally unacceptable and places an unfair financial and emotional burden on local families and businesses that depend on weddings.”

Deputy Nolan has been actively seeking answers from the HSE on this matter since February, following direct representations from local residents and businesses.

She says her offices made urgent contact with the HSE immediately upon receipt of these complaints and she continues to press for a full explanation and a concrete timeline for the appointment of replacement staff and the reopening of services in Tullamore.

“Two years is more than enough time to fill these positions. The HSE’s failure to act has now brought an entire county’s marriage registration system to a standstill.”

“Offaly residents deserve the same standard of service as every other part of the country, and they deserve it now,” Deputy Nolan concluded.