Vol. 473 No. 6
56 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Justice the current position regarding the holding of District Court sittings in non-court venues; the steps, if any, she intends to take in order to resolve the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2136/97]
218 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the current position regarding the holding of District Courts in non-court venues; the steps, if any, she intends to take with a view to resolving the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2395/97]
244 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the inconvenience arising from her decision to abolish district court sittings in Dunfanaghy, Falcarragh, Bunbeg and Dungloe, County Donegal; if she will rectify the matter and reinstate these court sittings as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2098/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 218 and 244 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the need to rearrange certain District Court areas arose following queries raised in Court in Milford, County Donegal, by a solicitor concerning planning requirements for the use of rented accommodation for sittings of the District Court and the decision of the District Court judge that court sittings could not be held in such places without specific planning approval.
Before arriving at his decision the judge had heard the views of a solicitor representing Donegal County Council who argued that such permission was not necessary. Following consultation with the Attorney General, 16 District Court areas where court sittings have up to now been held in non-court accommodation were rearranged so that hearings would be held in dedicated court facilities.
I am aware that Donegal County Council, as the local authority, which has the statutory duty to provide court premises has referred the question raised in relation to the need for planning consultation in these cases to An Bord Pleanála under section 5 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 for determination.
