asked the Minister for Justice if he will cancel proposals to transfer the court clerk's office from Navan, in view of the fact that it is the largest town in County Meath.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Court Clerk's Office.
39.
Cavan) (For the Minister for Justice): The answer is “No”.
The impending closure of the District Court office in Navan arises from the amalgamation of the District Court clerkships at Trim and Navan to form one clerkship which will have its headquarters in Trim and will serve the District Court areas currently served from Trim and Navan. The amalgamation is an integral part of a reorganisation of the provincial District Court service into a smaller number of larger offices, which is an essential element of a productivity scheme agreed with the provincial District Court Clerks as the basis for the grant to them of pay parity with their Dublin colleagues.
I have chosen Trim as the headquarters of the clerkship because the Circuit Court office is located there and the existing accommodation in Navan is inadequate to house a larger office.
It seems rather strange that only one District Court office should be in County Meath and considering that Navan would have the biggest population—it has a projected population of 14,000 by 1990—could the Minister see his way to withdraw the proposal to transfer the court offices from the town?
(Cavan): As I have told the Deputy in my reply, the reduction is necessary in order to implement an arrangement entered into between the District Court Clerks' Association and the Department. The number of clerkships has actually been reduced from 59 to 40. I understand that location-wise there is practically no difference between Trim and Navan in so far as serving the area concerned goes. One element in deciding in favour of Trim was the fact that the Circuit Court Office had been sited there for many years. I also understand that the building in Trim is quite suitable for the larger staff, whereas the building in Navan is not. The only real complaint that one town might have for losing it would be loss of staff. I think the Deputy will agree with me that Navan has very little to fear as regards the loss of staff either from a county approach or from the national viewpoint.
Would this be decentralisation?
(Cavan): No.
Is there a real necessity to have only one for the county?
(Cavan): I have made that clear to the Deputy. The Deputy is aware that there was a difference of opinion between the Department and the District Court Clerks. This was ironed out and an agreement reached on the basis that the number of clerkships would be reduced from 59 to 40.