asked the Minister for Justice if steps are being taken to increase the number of personnel in any court offices to cope with the increasing volume and arrears of work in all court offices; and, if so, if he will furnish particulars.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Court Offices Personnel.
27.
In general, the work position in court offices is satisfactory and I do not accept that there are arrears of work in all court offices. The staffing of these offices is kept under review and additional assistance is provided where the growth in business makes this necessary. If the Deputy sends me particulars of any case of excessive delay, I shall have the matter investigated.
Is the Minister aware that it takes up to three months to get paid out of court money lodged in it because it involves three different court offices each of which takes up to three or four weeks to do a particular thing? Does the Minister think that that is a satisfactory service to the public and to the legal profession in return for the colossal fees charged?
I have to say that a lot of the trouble is caused by the incomplete manner in which applications are submitted by the legal profession.
I would remind the Minister that both he and the Minister for Finance were called upon to apologise for remarks about the legal profession. These offices are understaffed and the Minister cannot persuade the Minister for Finance to give the staff required.
I am quite satisfied that the only offices in relation to which I would agree with the Deputy are the various district court offices throughout the country and we are in the process of recruiting additional staff for these offices. According to my information the trouble is frequently due to the incomplete manner in which the applications are submitted by the legal profession.
Things are going from bad to worse.
The Deputy should check with some of his confréres.