Vol. 543 No. 2
692 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he proposes any legislative changes to speed up the processing of divorce or judicial separation cases; if he has satisfied himself that the speed with which cases are progressed at present are in accordance with anticipation at the time of the passing of the respective legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26441/01]
I am aware that delays exist in relation to the hearing of divorce and judicial separation cases in some Circuit Court venues. Comprehensive statistics in this regard were published in the Courts Service annual report, 2000, which is available in the Oireachtas Library.
The ordering of the business of the Circuit Court is a matter for the President of that court. Due to the pressure of work generally in the Circuit Court, I arranged, with Government approval, for the appointment of an additional judge of the Circuit Court in February last year and the appointment of a further extra judge in January of this year. I have no plans at the moment for legislative change in the areas of divorce or judicial separation. However, I will continue to keep the situation under review, including the issue of resources needed in the Circuit Court.
693 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has allocated resources to the Courts Service to facilitate the provision of a new courthouse at Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26442/01]
In November 1999, I established the independent Courts Service on a statutory basis under the Courts Service Act, 1998. Under the Act, responsibility for the management of the courts system is now conferred on the Courts Service. Section 5 of the Courts Service Act, 1998 provides, inter alia, that the functions of the service shall be: to provide, manage and maintain court buildings, and to provide facilities for court users.
Having regard to the statutory independence of the Courts Service, the Deputy will appreciate that it is a matter for the Courts Service as to how funding provided for its building programme is allocated. I am pleased to have been able to obtain Government approval for the allocation of significant funds for courthouse upgrading in recent years. During the lifetime of this Government, the financial provision for court buildings has increased from £8.9 million, 11.3 million, to £22.5 million, 28.6 million, which represents an increase of over 150%.
694 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that adequate resources are available to the Courts Service to facilitate the implementation of the various policy objectives set out by the service; if he has received information regarding the need to address a backlog of cases in the District, Circuit or High Courts or family law courts; if the availability of resources to the service has impacted on access to divorce or judicial separation cases; if he has received information from the service indicating a backlog in any of these areas; if he has received requests for resources to upgrade, renovate or replace various courthouses throughout the country; if he has been given a list of priorities in respect of the provision of new courthouses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26444/01]
Our courts system has recently undergone the most comprehensive and radical reform of court administration since the foundation of the State. In November 1999 I established the independent Courts Service on a statutory basis under the Courts Service Act, 1998. Under the Act, responsibility for the management of the courts system is now conferred on the Courts Service.
The structures which have now been put in place will put the Courts Service in a much better position to meet the demands placed on it and to provide a first class service for judges, practitioners, court staff and most importantly of course, the users of the system. In order to reflect the Government's commitment to ensuring the success of the Courts Service, I have obtained Government approval for an increase in the allocation to the courts Vote from £30.4 million, 38.6 million, in 1997 to £64.9 million, 82.4 million this year – a 113% increase.
