asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that much expense is incurred by farmers and others, west of Macroom, owing to the Circuit Court being held at Cork instead of at Macroom; whether the present Judge has refused to sit in the Town Hall, the Court House being burned, and if he can do anything to remedy this, or if steps will be taken to expedite the rebuilding of the Court House.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CO. CORK CIRCUIT COURT.
I am not aware that much expense has been incurred by farmers or others owing to the Circuit Court being held at Cork instead of at Macroom. Only 38 civil cases were listed for hearing at the Hilary Sittings at Macroom, and of these but one was defended, so that the number of persons affected was very small. There were, in addition, four appeals from the District Court. Furthermore, I understand that the distance from Macroom to Cork is twenty miles, and that there is a good train service, so that the additional expense incurred by the few persons obliged to travel was in no way serious. I am aware that the present Judge has refused to sit in the Town Hall as that building does not provide proper accommodation for a court, in that it is draughty, with windows broken, and bad heating arrangement. Further, the local dispensary work is carried on at one end of the room in which the court is held. The duty of providing proper court accommodation is imposed by Statute upon county councils. I have attempted to get the Cork County Council to discharge its duty in this respect at Macroom, and elsewhere in the County of Cork, but without success. The finding of a remedy for the present state of affairs at Macroom rests with the Cork County Council.