The Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2013, which granted the Circuit Court jurisdiction to deal with examinership applications in respect of small private companies which meet certain criteria, is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that a total of 6 applications for examinership were lodged in Circuit Court offices in 2014. In relation to fees, there are no court specific fees in relation to examinership in the Circuit Court. The normal Circuit Court fees apply. The fees currently applicable are prescribed in the Circuit Court (Fees) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. 491 of 2014).