: I am concerned that there should be any delay in the processing of these cases and I had already arranged that as many staff as are available to do so would work overtime in the judgments section to assist in clearing the backlog. In addition, in early September, I arranged that an additional head of staff be deployed in the judgments section. The situation there will be monitored on an ongoing basis and the current staff complement will, as far as possible, be maintained until the arrears are cleared.
I am informed that there are approximately 800 judgment files awaiting attention and over 100 of these cases are the subject of queries to the solicitors who submitted them.
These delays are a direct result of measures introduced last year to eliminate delays in the hearing of civil cases. These measures, which included the introduction of a case management system and the appointment of additional judges, have eliminated the delays in having civil cases listed but have resulted in an increase in the number of judgments to be processed.
I am also informed that there is currently a delay of seven months in having judgments processed in the Dublin Circuit Court office compared with delays of between nine and 11 months in March of this year.
I understand that in any case where a litigant is experiencing exceptional difficulties due to a delay in having a judgment processed the County Registrar will, on receipt of representations from the relevant solicitor, endeavour to expedite the processing of the judgment in that case.
