Vol. 487 No. 3
258 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 258, 295 and 296 of 10 February 1998, he will outline the strategy which his Department has suggested to Cork County Council to progress the project at Youghal courthouse. [3936/98]
259 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 258, 295 and 296 of 10 February 1998, he will outline the court accommodation requirements at Youghal, County Cork, as supplied by his Department to Cork County Council. [3937/98]
260 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the possible solutions to the problems at Youghal courthouse, as outlined in the structural report and subsequent clarification received in his Department on 2 February 1998, and further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 258, 295 and 296 of 10 February 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3938/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 258, 259 and 260 together. As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 258, 295 and 296 of 10 February 1998 I am committed to providing modern court accommodation in Youghal as quickly as possible. In order to achieve this my Department has put proposals to Cork County Council in relation to the project. These proposals include the provision of suitable District Court office accommodation as well as courtroom and ancillary facilities for the judge, legal practitioners and other court uses. Provision of wheelchair access and suitable toilet facilities are also envisaged. Cork County Council have been asked to draw up plans to take these requirements into account and to provide a preliminary cost plan for the proposals.
My Department has also asked Cork County Council to carry out a conservation study of the building and site given the necessary statutory consultation process which must be undertaken with the Heritage Council. The Department will also consult with the interested groups including the judiciary staff and legal practitioners when draft plans have been prepared.
The plans and preliminary costings sought from Cork County Council will address foundation, roof, support, stonework and other problems which have been identified.
When draft plans to meet my Department's requirements are available from Cork County Council it will be necessary to obtain the approval of the Heritage Council for the remedial works involved.
It is not possible at this stage to provide a timescale for the project but the Deputy may be assured that my Department is working in co-operation with Cork County Council to ensure that it will be provided without delay.
261 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the courthouses in the State that are in the process of being replaced, renovated or refurbished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3939/98]
262 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the courthouses in the State that require renovation and or refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3940/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.
In March 1990 the Government decided that local authorities should be relieved of the financial burden of providing courthouse accommodation and that such costs should be met in future by my Department. The courts building programme is now well under way and the budget for new and refurbished courthouses has been increasing steadily each year.
Since 1991 as part of that programme major refurbishment works have been carried out at the following court venues: Letterkenny, Athlone, Dún Laoghaire, Donegal Town, Galway, Cork District Court, Carlow, Dungarvan, Ballinasloe, Castlecomer, Abbeyfeale, Clonmel, Midleton, Ballina, Naas, Carrick-on-Shannon, Portarlington and at the Four Courts, Riverbank and Richmond Courthouses in Dublin.
Refurbishment work is currently under way at Edenderry, Roscrea, Ennis, Portlaoise, Cork Circuit Court, Rathdowney and I will be opening a new purpose-built courthouse in Tallaght very shortly.
Much remains to be done to bring court accommodation generally up to a standard which is commensurate with a proper service to the public. This Government is fully committed to the provision of modern court facilities for all court users as indicated by the unprecedented level of funding of £12 million which I secured for improvement works this year.
