Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 1980

Vol. 318 No. 6

Written Answers. - Courts Improvements.

370.

Mr. Keating

asked the Minister for Justice if he has satisfied himself with the present state of courts, in particular the District Courts throughout the country; the proposals, if any, to improve the situation, if he will outline the moneys made available for such improvements over each of the past five years, if he intends making extra courts available in the near future, if so, if these will be jury courts, if he will list the addresses of all courts and the amount of money spent in each case over each of the last five years.

Minister for Justice (Mr. G. Collins)

Responsibility for the provision and maintenance of court accommodation with certain exceptions in the Dublin area, is vested by law in local authorities. It is accepted that there are some venues where the court accommodation is less than satisfactory. I am at present having an inquiry carried out to establish the level of improvements, if any, required at the various court venues throughout the country. When the results of the inquiry are available consideration will be given to the question of how best to effect any improvements in court accommodation which may be required. It is only fair to point out here that in many cases, particularly in the more isolated areas, local authorities rent privately-owned accommodation in order to fulfil their obligations. The alternative of providing purpose-built court accommodation may have to be considered in some instances, but the cost, by reference to the volume of business and the number of sittings, would be high.

Each local authority make their own arrangements to meet their commitments in regard to court accommodation by appropriate provisions in their annual estimates. These provisions cover such items as heat, light, rent, rates, wages of caretakers, repairs and maintenance, new building, professional fees, office furniture and fittings, repayment of loans and insurance. The total amounts provided in local authority estimates in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 for expenditure on these items were £553,121, £648,280, £782,334 and £1,012,112 respectively, according to information furnished by the Department of the Environment. The corresponding figure for 1975 is not available and could not be compiled without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time.

The provision and maintenance of court accomodation in the Dublin city area, with the exception of the courthouse accommodation at Green Street which is provided by Dublin Corporation, is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works, who made provision for the following amounts for improvement and maintenance of court accommodation over the past five years:

1975	—	£310,000
1976	—	£281,000
1977	—	£271,000
1978	—	£198,000
1979	—	£411,000

In 1979 the Office of Public Works also made provision for a sum of £50,000 in respect of expenditure on the reconstruction of Waterford Courthouse, which, as a result of mandamus proceedings in the High Court, they are required to carry out. Any sums expended by the Office of Public Works on this project are recoverable from the local authority concerned.

An extra courtroom has recently been provided in Cork courthouse. Arrangements are in hands to provide in the Four Courts an additional jury court complex for use by both the Circuit Court and the High Court and an additional non-jury courtroom for the High Court and, in view of the increasing business generated by the expanding population of the greater Dublin area, the needs of the District Court in Dublin city and county are being kept under review. I propose to consult with the President of the District Court as to whether it might be appropriate to provide additional court venues in the new suburbs. If it is decided that any additional venues are necessary the question of making suitable premises available will be taken up with Dublin County Council.

A list of the locations in each county at which court accommodation is provided is appended. There is no information available in my Department on the amount of money spent at each location in the past five years.

County	Location at which court accommodation is provided
Carlow	Carlow, Hacketstown, Muine Bheag, Tullow.
Dublin County Borough	Green Street, Chancery Street, Morgan Place, Abbey Street, Dublin Castle, Ormond Quay, Four Courts.
Dublin County	Balbriggan, Dundrum, Kilmainham, Lucan, Rathfarnham, Sutton, Swords.
Dún Laoghaire Borough	Dún Laoghaire.
Kildare	Athy, Droichead Nua, Kilcock, Kildare, Naas.
Kilkenny	Ballyragget, Callan, Castlecomer, Gowran, Graiguenamanagh, Kilkenny, Thomastown, Urlingford.
Laoighis	Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Portarlington, Portlaoise, Rathdowney.
Longford	Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown, Granard, Longford.
Louth	Ardee, Carlingford, Drogheda, Dundalk, Dunleer.
Meath	Athboy, Ceannanus Mór, Dunshaughlin, Navan, Oldcastle, Trim.
Offaly	Banagher, Birr, Daingean, Edenderry, Cloghan, Kilcormac, Tullamore.
Westmeath	Athlone, Ballynacargy, Castlepollard, Delvin, Kilbeggan, Killucan, Moate, Mullingar.
Wexford	Ballycullane, Bunclody, Enniscorthy, Gorey, New Ross, Wexford.
Wicklow	Arklow, Baltinglass, Blessington, Bray, Dunlavin, Rathdrum, Shillelagh, Wicklow.
Clare	Corofin, Ennis, Ennistymon, Kildysart, Kilkee, Kilrush, Lisdoonvarna, Miltown Malbay, Shannon, Sixmilebridge, Scarriff, Tulla, Killaloe.
Cork County Borough and County	Ballincollig, Bandon, Bantry, Blarney, Carrigaline, Castlemartyr, Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Coachford, Cobh, Cork, Dunman- way, Fermoy, Glengarriff, Kanturk, Kinsale, Macroom, Mallow, Midleton, Millstreet, Mitchelstown, Rathluirc, Schull, Skibbereen, Youghal.
Kerry	Annascaul, Cahirciveen, Castlegregory, Castleisland, Causeway, Dingle, Kenmare, Killarney, Killorglin, Listowel, Rathmore, Sneem, Tarbert, Tralee, Waterville.
Limerick County Borough and County.	Abbeyfeale, Adare, Askeaton, Bruff, Cappamore, Drumcollogher, Kilfinane, Kilmallock, Limerick, Newcastle West, Rathkeale, Shanagolden.
Tipperary NR	Borrisokane, Nenagh, Newport, Roscrea, Templemore, Thurles.
Tipperary SR	Cahir, Cappawhite, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clogheen, Clonmet,
	Killenaule, Tipperary.
Waterford County Borough and County.	Cappoquin, Dungarvan, Kilmacthomas, Lismore, Tallow, Tramore, Waterford.
Galway	Athenry, Ballinasloe, Carna, Clifden, Derreen, Derrynea, Dunmore, Eyrecourt, Galway, Glenamaddy, Gort, Headford, Kilronan, Kinvara, Letterfrack, Loughrea, Maam, Mountbellew, Oughterard, Portumna, Spiddal, Tuam, Williamstown, Woodford.
Leitrim	Ballinamore, Carrick-on-Shannon, Drumkeerin, Manorhamilton, Mohill.
Mayo	Achill, Balla, Ballina, Ballinrobe, Ballycastle, Ballycroy, Ballyhaunis, Belmullet, Castlebar, Charlestown, Claremorris, Crossmolina, Foxford, Kilkelly, Killala, Kiltimagh, Newport, Swinford, Westport.
Roscommon	Ballaghaderreen, Ballyfarnon, Ballyforan, Boyle, Castlerea, Elphin, Roscommon, Ruskey, Strokestown.
Sligo	Ballymote, Collooney, Easkey, Grange, Inniscrone, Riverstown, Skreen, Sligo, Tubbercurry.
Cavan	Arva, Bailieborough, Ballyconnell, Ballyjamesduff, Belturbet, Cavan, Cootehill, Dowra, Kingscourt, Virginia.
Donegal	Ballyshannon, Bunbeg, Buncrana, Cardonagh, Donegal, Dun- fanaghy, Dungloe, Falcarragh, Glenties, Killybegs, Letterkenny, Lifford, Milford, Moville, Newtowncunningham, Pettigo, Raphoe, Ballybofey.
Monaghan	Ballybay, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Clones, Monaghan.