Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2015
137. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding services at Westport courthouse, County Mayo; when repair and refurbishment works will be completed on the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9616/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of accommodation for court sittings.
However, in order to be of assistance I have had enquiries made and have been informed that at the request of the Courts Service the Office of Public Works commissioned a report on Westport Courthouse in June 2013. The report identified that the courthouse ceiling was in danger of collapse. Remedial works to the ceiling alone would not address the cause of the damage and the report concluded that the estimated cost of the works, including various fees, could be close to €1 million. Given the scale of the costs involved, the Courts Service has indicated that it does not currently have funding to undertake this work. I am informed that in the meantime business of the Circuit and District Courts has been adjourned temporarily to Castlebar courthouse.
