asked the Minister for Justice if his Department has any plans to take over responsibility for courthouses; if he will agree that conditions in the majority of courthouses for the public and those employed in them are unsatisfactory and if he will make a statement on the matter
Written Answers. - Responsibility for Courthouses.
631.
Limerick East): The Courthouses (Provision and Maintenance) Act, 1935, obliges local authorities to provide and maintain in their functional areas such courthouse accommodation as the Minister for Justice shall direct.
To remove that responsibility from local authorities would require legislation. I have on a number of occasions indicated that I could not, in the context of parliamentary questions, say whether or not I have proposals for legislative changes. When such proposals are approved by the Government an announcement is made to that effect as soon as possible.