AQW 1244/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Finance

To ask the Minister of Finance whether registration of birth forms could include a tick-box option for parents to declare in which education sector they wish their child to be educated.

Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 9 June 2022

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
9 June 2022
Answer due by
24 June 2022
Answered
16 June 20227 days after tabling
Department
Department of Finance
Priority question
No

Answer

The purpose of a birth registration is to provide a permanent and official record of a child’s birth and is information on a life event at a point in time. The registration of the birth enables a birth certificate to be issued to the parents that will be required for various purposes throughout the child’s life and into adulthood, such as for claiming benefits, registration for school or opening a bank account.

It would not be appropriate to include a tick-box on the birth registration form for parents to declare in which education sector they wish their child to be educated as gathering this information would not be necessary for the birth registration and would be outside the role of the civil registration service.

Official sources