asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the number of district justices in the public service at the present time; the salary scale of the said justices; the average number of court sittings per month in (a) metropolitan, and (b) other court areas, indicating in each case the duration of sittings; and whether, in view of the decline in litigation work now falling to be dealt with by the District Courts, he will consider the practicability of amalgamating existing District Court areas as they become vacant on the retirement of the existing justices, in accordance with Sections 21 and 22 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1953.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - District Justices and Court Areas.
The information sought by the Deputy regarding the number and remuneration of justices of the District Court and the frequency of the sittings of the court takes the form of a tabular statement, which I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have circulated with the Official Report. My Department has no information concerning the duration of the sittings of the court.
With regard to the last part of the question, there is no power to do what the Deputy suggests. It has been decided, however, to give effect as soon as may be possible to Part V of the Courts of Justice Act, 1953, which provides for the redivision of the country outside the Dublin Metropolitan District into not more than 25 new districts instead of 30 as at present, with an eventual corresponding reduction in the number of justices. The matter is receiving urgent attention in my Department with a view to early implementation of the enactment.
Following is the statement:—
NUMBER and remuneration of Justices of the District Court.
(Note: The maximum number of permanent Justices permitted by statute is forty-two.)
|
Number |
Salary |
|
|
£ |
||
|
PERMANENT JUSTICES: |
||
|
Dublin Metropolitan District: |
||
|
Principal Justice |
3 |
2,010 |
|
Ordinary Justices |
5 |
1,880 |
|
Provincial Districts: |
||
|
Cork City Justice |
1 |
1,880 |
|
Other Justices |
29 |
1,750 |
|
JUSTICES NOT PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED TO A PARTICULAR DISTRICT |
2 |
1,750 |
|
TEMPORARY JUSTICES |
1 |
1,750 |
|
TOTAL |
41 |
SITTINGS OF THE DISTRICT COURT.
Average number of sittings appointed to be held each month.
|
Number of Sittings |
|
|
Dublin Metropolitan District |
139 |
|
Other Districts (per District) |
14* |
*Note.—This figure does not include special sittings of the Court held in addition to the appointed sittings.