Vol. 344 No. 9
asked the Minister for Justice the repairs that are necessary for Cavan Courthouse; their approximate costs; the directions he has given to the local authority to carry out the repairs; and the date on which it is expected that such repairs will be completed.
67.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that large sections of Cavan Courthouse, County Cavan, have been closed off from general use by the court and that extensive protective sheeting has been put up inside the court and if he will give an assurance that the premises are now safe for all persons either employed or transacting business in the office of the Circuit Court or District Court.
68.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that Cavan Courthouse, County Cavan, has been closed for the purpose of sittings of the court since 1982 and that the Circuit Court and High Court on Circuit are at present unable to sit in the county town of Cavan due to lack of suitable courthouse accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
69.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that jurors summoned for jury service from Blacklion, north west Cavan, have now to travel 69 miles to attend the Circuit Court at Bailieboro and return 69 miles, making a total of 138 miles; if he is aware that in many cases undue hardship is being caused to jurors, arising from the closing of Cavan Courthouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 to 69, inclusive, together.
The position is that use of the courtroom in Cavan Courthouse was discontinued in October 1982 because of concern about the condition of the ceiling, and arrangements were made to hold sittings of the District Court in the Protestant Hall, Farnham Street, Cavan, and to transfer sittings of the Circuit Court and of the High Court on Circuit, due to be held at Cavan Courthouse, to the Courthouse, Bailieboro. Cavan County Council commissioned consultant architects to carry out a detailed survey of the courthouse roof, which was thought to be defective, and to recommend remedial action. The consultants established that wet rot is rampant in the roof timbers and ceiling laths and they recommended some temporary safety measures to be effected until such time as they could formulate their final report. I understand that the county council has carried out all the recommended safety measures and are satisfied that these will be effective.
The consultants' final report will not be available for a further month or so as they are currently investigating the position regarding wet and dry rot elsewhere in the structure of the building. Until that report becomes available it will not be possible to say exactly what repairs will be required, how long it will take to carry them out or the likely cost but I understand that preliminary estimates suggest that a sum in the region of £720,000 will be involved.
Since the county council appear to be dealing with the problem in a competent and responsible manner the question of issuing directions to them does not arise.
With regard to jury service I accept that there may be undue hardship involved for persons residing in certain areas of County Cavan who are summoned to jury service at Bailieboro, following the temporary abandonment of Cavan Courthouse as a Circuit Court venue. However, section 5 (2) of the Juries Act, 1976, provides that the Minister for Justice may by order divide a county into two or more jury districts or limit a jury district to a part or parts of a county and I am considering the making of an order which would meet the situation which now exists in County Cavan. I would hope that the order will be in force before jurors are summoned for the next sittings of the Circuit Court in Bailieboro, which are due in October.
