asked the Minister for Justice if he will state when it is proposed to appoint a District Court clerk or clerks for the District Court areas of Glenties, Ardara and Stranorlar, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Court Officers (Donegal).
The position arising out of the present vacancy in the District Court clerkship serving the District Court areas of Glenties, Ardara and Stranorlar, falls to be dealt with by the amalgamation of these areas with those of adjoining clerkships. The matter is at present being considered as part of a general scheme for the reorganisation of the various District Court clerkships in County Donegal, which has as its ultimate object the suppression of all part-time clerkships in the county and their replacement by whole-time posts, which will, of course, be fewer in number. The suppression of part-time clerkships will be effected only as opportunity offers, that is to say, according as vacancies occur in the normal way.
I expect, however, that an early decision will be reached, within the framework of the general scheme, in regard to the amalgamation of the three areas referred to in the question with adjoining clerkships.
Is the Minister aware that we have had no District Court clerk in either of these areas for the past ten years? It is very unfair to the defence that the prosecuting Guard should also be the District Court clerk and have access to the defence files.
The Deputy will have observed from my reply that I am proposing within the very near future to provide not only a District Court clerk but a whole-time District Court clerk.
The sooner the better.