Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Dec 1993

Vol. 436 No. 6

Written Answers. - Boyle (Roscommon) Courthouse.

John Connor

Question:

86 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Justice if she has received an application for funding from Roscommon County Council, accompanied by estimates and plans, for the refurbishment of Boyle Courthouse which has fallen into disrepair and is short of essential services such as consulting space, lawyer's and barrister's rooms and judge's quarters; and if, in view of the inadequacies at this courthouse, she will provide funding for the necessary works in 1994.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

In April last my Department received a request from Roscommon County Council to make adequate funding available to the Council to carry out all necessary repairs and renovations to Boyle courthouse in which the court sits approximately 27 days a year.

Because of the limited funds available for courthouse capital projects, priorities have had to be set and the allocation for this year had already been fully committed to provide proper courthouse accomodation at Cork, Galway, Clonmel and Athlone. It is expected that whatever funds are made available in 1994 will be allocated to those projects to which we are contractually committed and also for works at Clonmel, Drogheda and Carrick-on-Shannon courthouses which were the subject of mandamus proceedings in the High Court. The Deputy will, therefore, understand that I cannot give any indication at this stage as to when funds might be allocated for Boyle courthouse.