asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been directed to the statements recently made by the President of the Incorporated Law Society on the serious and long delays which exist in the Dublin Circuit Courts, and, if so, whether he will state the steps he proposes to take to remedy a grievance to which the attention of his Department has been directed on previous occasions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Circuit Court Delays.
I have seen the statements referred to in the first part of the question. The present position in the Circuit Court in Dublin is that there are 325 civil cases awaiting trial. In 245 of these cases the notice of trial was served for sittings after the commencement of the present year. In the remaining 80 cases the notice for trial was served for sittings in October, November or December of last year. The oldest untried cases are, therefore, those which might have been tried, at earliest, last October. These comparatively small arrears, as a result of more than eight years' working of the court, appear to indicate that the strength of the Circuit Court in Dublin is, on the whole, well adjusted to the volume of work, and that with a very little more occasional assistance the work could be kept absolutely up to date. I hope to be able to obtain such further assistance without increasing the total number of circuit judges, as I am aware that some of the judges on other circuits are not fully occupied. It may not, however, be possible to arrange this without altering the existing law as regards the assignment of judges to circuits. The whole matter is under consideration and I hope to find a definite solution without undue delay. In the meantime I am aware that the judges and staff of the court always endeavour to arrange specially for any case where it appears that any real hardship would be inflicted by delay.
Is the Minister aware that two judges were allotted to the Dublin Circuit Court some time ago, and is he satisfied that there is sufficient work for these two judges? If so, why was one taken away to do criminal business somewhere else two months ago? I should like to remind the Minister that if he looks at the figures he will find that there is practically no reduction in the number of cases awaiting trial 12 months ago.
I am trying to see if arrangements can be made to meet difficulties and to bring matters up to date. Occasionally a Circuit Court Judge has had to give assistance. It is inevitable that one of the Circuit Court Judges must assist in criminal work.
Why not get some of the other judges?
They have their own criminal work to attend to in their own circuits.
We commercial men look upon this as a matter of very great importance, and I would ask the Minister when may I repeat this question with a view to getting additional information?
The Deputy might repeat it in four weeks' time.