I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions No. 300 of 1 December 1998. The design team for the refurbishment of the courthouse concerned has not been appointed as it is not possible at this stage to say when refurbished work will be carried out. As I mentioned in my earlier reply, refurbishment projects are prioritised on the basis of certain criteria, including office locations, the number of sittings, caseload, etc. On this basis the venues located in county towns are getting priority as they usually accommodate the District and Circuit Courts and the High Court on Circuit and the offices of the District and Circuit Courts. Accordingly, major refurbishment work is expected to commence on the Circuit courthouse in Limerick later this year.
However, I am committed to providing modern court accommodation in the area in question as quickly as possible.