asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that representations have been made to the district justices and other interested parties in Eire by the Sligo Sessional Bar Association to have the jurisdiction of the District Court increased to £50 in contract and tort cases and in title cases in which the poor law valuation of the lands involved does not exceed £15; if he is further aware that, in the opinion of the majority of the legal profession and the public, the Circuit Court has proved a failure in its original purpose owing to the long delay and enormous costs of litigation therein; and if he is prepared to amend Section 77 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924, so as to increase the jurisdiction of the District Courts to the amounts set out above.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Jurisdiction of District Court.
As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, the question of the extent of the jurisdiction of the District Court was examined by a Joint Committee of the Oireachtas in 1930. That Committee, after hearing a considerable volume of evidence on the subject, recommended that the existing limits of jurisdiction should be maintained. Since then, so far as I am aware, no new factors affecting the position have emerged, nor has there been any widespread demand for amending legislation on the lines suggested.
As regards the Deputy's reference to the Circuit court, I am aware that there has been some criticism of the cost of litigation in that court, and I have, in fact, drawn the attention of the Circuit Court Rules Committee to the matter. I understand that the committee has been actively engaged in the task of preparing a revised scale of costs which will, I hope, meet to a large extent the criticism that has been made.