Vol. 487 No. 8
102 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to improved facilities at the courthouse in Castlebar, County Mayo; the new facilities to be provided there; when he expects actual renovation work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5375/98]
Mayo County Council, which is responsible for the provision of courts accommodation in County Mayo, is acting as my Department's agent in relation to this project. The design team has been appointed for the refurbishment of Castlebar courthouse. The accommodation to be provided in the refurbished courthouse, includes two substantial courtrooms with judges' chambers, a family law suite, modern office accommodation for the staff of the District and Circuit Court, a legal practitioners' room, consultation-interview rooms, a victim support room and all other ancillary facilities. The building will also be fully accessible to persons with disabilities.
It is not possible at this stage to provide a time-scale for the work given the nature of the planning, consultation and tendering processes. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to providing the funding necessary to have the courthouse in Castlebar refurbished as quickly as possible to provide modern court facilities to all court users in Castlebar and the surrounding area.
103 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has to eliminate a situation whereby Ballincollig District Court is held every month in Midleton, which is a distance of approximately 25 miles, with the resultant cost of travel expenses to everybody travelling to Midleton for the hearings, including the costs of officials and solicitors under the free legal aid system; if he will review the situation regarding Riverstown Court which is also held on a monthly basis in Midleton and the Blarney Court which is held once a month in Whitechurch; and the impediments which stand in his way in having these District Courts held in their own areas or, alternatively, incorporating them in the District Court area of Cork, in view of the fact that all court staff servicing these courts are located at Anglesea Street District Court, Cork city. [5376/98]
In so far as Ballincollig is concerned I recently decided that court sittings should be resumed there. Cork County Council has been asked to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate the resumption of court sittings. When this has been done I will make the necessary ministerial order. Sittings at Riverstown District Court were last held in 1966 and I have no proposals to change this. Court sittings were last held in Blarney in 1987 and I have no proposals to change this.
