To ask the Minister of Finance, pursuant to AQW 32351/22-27, to detail any progress that has been made on integrating Northern Ireland into the Tell Us Once service.

Bereavement provision here is currently made by the Bereavement Service, which is run by the Department for Communities. Following a constructive meeting with Minister Lyons in September 2025 I agreed that my officials would investigate the legislative work that would be necessary to allow my department to share relevant death registration data with a Tell Us Once type service.

That scoping work is at an early stage. My officials are examining a number of potential legal gateways to verify if there are viable routes that could enable the sharing of death registration information as described. If no suitable route is identified, work to consider alternative legislative options would be required.

I am supportive of lessening the burden on bereaved families at very difficult times in their lives, and my department will do as much as possible to support this.