Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 1

Written Answers. - Court Accommodation.

Michael Bell

Question:

652 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in the provision of a new District and Circuit court for Drogheda, County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the conditions under which the due process of law has to operate from an old school hall building; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that witnesses, jury panels, doctors and other professional people have to travel for circuit hearings to Dundalk; if his attention has been further drawn to the serious backlog of unheard cases in County Louth and to the fact that Drogheda is not listed in the Courts Service Journal Commencement in 2000; if the site for the proposed new courthouse has been transferred from Louth County Council or Drogheda Corporation to his Department; the cost of purchase, transfer and when completed; when the project will go for tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1294/00]

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

As the Deputy is aware, the Courts Service was established by me on 9 November 1999 and has taken over responsibility from local authorities for the provision and maintenance of courthouses.

I have been informed by the courts service that it is preparing a five to seven year building programme at present to upgrade its court building stock which had fallen into disrepair over a long period of time. I have provided a capital budget of 13.5 million this year which will allow the Courts Service to complete a number of projects and to commence work on some new ones. For example, planning for the refurbishment of Dundalk Courthouse is at an advanced stage and it is expected that work will commence in the middle of this year.

With regard to Drogheda, I am aware of the poor courtroom conditions which exist in Drogheda at present. The staff of the District Court are located in temporary office accommodation. I am anxious to ensure that modern court facilities are provided in Drogheda as quickly as possible and I know that the Courts Service is committed to providing a new courthouse in Drogheda as part of its building programme. The Courts Service has adopted a protocol on consultation with court users and in line with this protocol all court users will be consulted regarding the facilities to be provided in the new courthouse in Drogheda. I have been informed by the Courts Service that the design team is now in place and that the project is in the early stages of planning and that the project will go to tender in the autumn and construction will commence on site at the end of this year. There is provision in the Courts Service Act, 1998, for the transfer of property in each local authority area. The vesting arrangements in respect of Drogheda, is not expected to delay the project.

In relation to delays in hearing cases by the Circuit Court, I have been advised by the Courts Service that in County Louth there is no delay in hearing criminal or family law matters and in civil matters the delay in hearing cases has been reduced from two years to six months.