Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
99. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to the number of cases before the family courts and the waiting times for hearings in family law cases; and if further consideration will be given to recruiting and appointing additional judges to tackle these waiting times. [25045/16]
View answer127. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to the provision of more judges to sit in the Dublin District Court where there can currently be as many as 22 cases listed in the family courts, Dolphin House; if further consideration will be given to the provision of more private consultation rooms for non-child care family law cases where there are currently three waiting rooms and a further waiting room shared by a men's group; and if she will address the urgent need for waiting rooms since the enactment of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 for children brought to court in family court buildings. [25304/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 127 together.
As the Deputy will be 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, including the provision of facilities for court users. The scheduling and hearing of court cases is a matter for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding Judges.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the assignment of judges and the distribution of the business of the District Court, including in the Dublin Metropolitan District, is a matter for the President of the District Court. The decision on the number of judges to hear family law matters in Dolphin House is a matter for the President of the District Court.
The President of the District Court, in consultation with the Courts Service, keeps the distribution of business in Dolphin House under regular review and where specific issues are identified appropriate action is taken bearing in mind any constraints imposed by the availability of judicial, administrative or structural resources. In this context, the Courts Service is making final arrangements for the relocation of the three child care hearing courts currently located in Dolphin House to the Chancery Street Courthouse in September 2016. This will increase the number of dedicated courtrooms available for the hearing of District Family Law cases to eight and will facilitate the holding of additional family courts and reduce waiting times and the number of cases listed per court per day.
The Courts Service has commenced discussions with the users of Dolphin House as to how the additional space resulting from the transfer of the three courts from Dolphin House to Chancery Street can be used for the benefit of all court users, bearing in mind the restrictions of the building and the health and safety and security needs of all who attend the building.
I am pleased that plans for a dedicated and integrated Family Law and Children’s Court building on a site at Church Street and Hammond Lane, adjacent to the Four Courts are progressing well. This will provide new family law courts for the District, Circuit and High Courts in a single location with associated facilities and it is currently envisaged that the new facility will be available by 2020.
