asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the concern among people living in Banagher, Kilcormac and Daingean over reports that it is intended to discontinue the District Court sittings in each of these towns; if he will confirm that the court will continue to sit in these towns as heretofore; and if he will make a statement on the present and future position.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Court Sittings.
23.
Proposals for the reorganisation of a number of District Court districts are being considered with a view to providing for a more equitable distribution of work among neighbouring districts with disparate case-loads. Districts Nos. 8 and 9, in which the areas referred to in the question are situated, are among the districts involved.
In the case of districts Nos. 8 and 9 what is proposed is that Tullamore be transferred from district No. 9 to district No. 8 so that the justice in district No. 9 may have time to provide much needed extra sittings at Mullingar and Longford. In order that the justice in district No. 8 may be in a position to take the sittings at Tullamore it is necessary, however, that he discontinue sitting at a number of the smaller, less-busy venues in his district. Banagher, Kilcormac and Woodford have been suggested as venues at which sittings could be discontinued without causing undue inconvenience locally. The numbers of cases dealt with at these venues are relatively small and there are alternative venues in close proximity to each to which the business could be transferred.
No alteration is at present contemplated in relation to District Court sittings at Daingean.
Would the Minister anticipate that the new increased workload arising from the Courts Bill would necessitate further change in the restructuring he has just mentioned?
I do not think so because in the case of Woodford, for instance, on average 90 cases are heard in a year. The case load is exceptionally small in that case and it is small also in the other cases mentioned.