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Court Accommodation Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Questions (420, 452, 453)

Gerald Nash

Question:

420. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when construction work will commence on the new Drogheda courthouse; when the courthouse will be open and fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14742/13]

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Niall Collins

Question:

452. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current status of the refurbishment and extension of the courthouses in County Cork, Mullingar County Westmeath and County Waterford on an individual basis as announced under the national stimulus plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15193/13]

View answer

Niall Collins

Question:

453. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current status of the new courthouse buildings for Drogheda, Letterkenny, Limerick and Wexford on an individual basis as announced under the national stimulus plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15194/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 420, 452 and 453 together.

In July 2012 the Government announced a stimulus package which includes seven courthouse projects in Wexford, Mullingar, Waterford, Limerick, Cork, Letterkenny and Drogheda.

As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that discussions are ongoing with the Office of Public Works and the National Development Finance Agency in order to progress the projects. The projects are to be procured and delivered through a Public Private Partnership.

I am informed that in the case of Wexford and Mullingar, design has been completed and Part 9 Planning has been obtained. In the case of the other five projects, the Office of Public Works is currently working on the designs with a view to undertaking the planning process later this year. It is expected that the PPP procurement process will commence around the end of the year. This time scale would allow construction to commence during 2015 with a view to the projects completing during 2016.

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