Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Court Accommodation.

Mr. Coveney

I thank the Minister for coming into the House to listen to what I have to say. I wish to ensure a District Court is available to the people of Carrigaline, County Cork. Carrigaline and the surrounding area is home to almost 20,000 people who are serviced by a farcical District Court system. The judge in the district, district No. 20, Judge Pattwell, said before the last sitting that he would no longer hold court in Carrigaline due to grossly inadequate facilities.

The courtroom is situated in Carrigaline community hall. It is far too small, however, for the number who have to attend court. It has a low ceiling. There is not a holding cell for remand prisoners and no private consultation rooms, which are desperately needed, particularly when it comes to family law cases. Even the witness box is far too small. Witnesses have been known to fall out of it during court sessions. Facilities for solicitors are non-existent.

I will tell the Minister about what happened at the last court sitting on 11 March. If the matter was not so serious, it would be amusing. At 10.30 a.m. a family law sitting began. Those who were not involved were asked to wait in the car park. At 11.15 a.m. they were told that there was a CIE bus waiting to take them to the courthouse in Cobh as the judge had refused to hold court in Carrigaline.

The fastest way to Cobh from Carrigaline is by car ferry across the harbour from Glenbrook. Everybody who had a car drove. The rest got the bus. The ferry operator refused to take the bus on board with the result that it had to travel around the harbour to Cobh, a distance of more than 30 miles from Carrigaline. Those who travelled by car arrived in Cobh 40 minutes before those who travelled by bus. The court finally got under way at about 12.30 p.m.

The story does not end there. There was no bus to take people home after the court sitting. How can we expect people to respect the law and the court system when this farcical situation is allowed to continue? The court is due to sit tomorrow and nobody seems to know what will unfold. A judge would not take the stand that Judge Pattwell has taken if the courtroom facilities were in any way acceptable.

I call on the Minister not to allow this joke to continue. The people of Carrigaline need a courthouse. The Minister should make funds available to provide them with a functional courtroom which will allow the justice system to function properly so that the law can be taken seriously.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am aware of the difficulties in the accommodation used by the District Court for sittings in Carrigaline. The courts are held in the community hall which is rented by Cork County Council in accordance with the provisions of the Courthouses (Provision and Maintenance) Act, 1935. The District Court judge has recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the venue provided for District Court sittings in Carrigaline and, particularly, the lack of adequate facilities in family law cases. He has indicated that he will adjourn sittings from Carrigaline to another court area in his district, Cobh, if suitable court accommodation cannot be acquired locally.

The venue in question is rented by Cork County Council. The court sits in this venue approximately 18 days per year. The facilities provided do not always equate with the requirements of a court, particularly in the area of family law business which is a sensitive issue.

The current court premises are privately owned and my Department cannot allocate funding to improve the facilities. The funding available to my Department is directed towards the refurbishment of dedicated courthouses throughout the country. The Deputy will agree that a significant amount of work has been done to upgrade court accommodation throughout the country in recent years. I have provided £8.5 million this year in capital funding for the courts building programme and a further £6.5 million for the maintenance and upkeep of court buildings. This is the highest figure provided to date for the refurbishment of court accommodation.

It is policy that priority be given to upgrading court venues which have a high number of court sittings, that is, the courthouses in county towns which accommodate the District and Circuit Courts and the High Court on circuit as well the offices of the District and Circuit Courts. On this basis the old model school in Cork city was refurbished to accommodate the District Courts and major refurbishment work is under way on the Circuit Court in Washington Street, with phase 1 almost completed. Work will begin shortly on the refurbishment of Mallow courthouse which accommodates the staff of the District Court office.

Officials of my Department, Cork County Council and the District Court clerk recently visited Carrigaline to examine the present court facilities, to discuss the concerns expressed by the District Court judge and identify possible alternative court accommodation in the town. Cork County Council is responsible under the Courthouses (Provision and Maintenance) Act, 1935, for the provision of court accommodation. It has been unable to identify a suitable alternative venue in Carrigaline. My Department is continuing to review alternative solutions to the problem.

I understand the District Court judge adjourned the Carrigaline District Court sitting on 11 March from Carrigaline to Cobh. This was a matter for the judge and I cannot intervene in such decisions. I recognise the inconvenience and hardship caused for the public in having to travel longer distances to court, particularly in this instance where I understand the District Court judge adjourned the sittings to Cobh for later that day. To alleviate the inconvenience to the public, my Department arranged to have transport available to transfer the public to Cobh and back.

I am anxious to ensure suitable venues are provided at convenient locations for court users. I must take into account, however, the views of the sitting judge and the need to provide accommodation appropriate to the functions of the courts. I am considering the options open to me regarding future sittings of Carrigaline court as I am anxious to ensure the court-going public of the Carrigaline district have easy access to appropriate court facilities as soon as possible.

It is recognised that there are a number of inadequate venues throughout the country, not just in this District Court area. I express my deepest appreciation to the District Court judges, members of the legal profession and the public who put up with accommodation which is less than satisfactory.