Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016
135. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the plan to rezone part of the site of the Hammond Lane, Smithfield, Dublin will cause delays in the development of the family and child court complex scheduled for completion in 2020; the steps being taken to prevent any possible delays in the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27527/16]
View answerAs outlined in my response to Parliamentary Questions 38 and 97 of 16 September 2016, the rezoning of a part of the Hammond Lane site as a park had been proposed in an amendment which had been tabled by some members of Dublin City Council to the draft Dublin City Development Plan 2016 - 2022. As the Deputy may be aware, the Courts Service had expressed serious concerns at the potential effect of the proposal to rezone part of the site at Hammond Lane as a public park as this would have severely limited the possibilities for the development of the site for a Family and Children Court complex. However, the Courts Service was made aware that the rezoning proposal was withdrawn recently with the effect that the full site at Hammond Lane remains available for this important courthouse development.
I am pleased that the 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. The Courts Service is working with the Office of Public Works on the design of this project and will be working with the National Development Finance Agency on the procurement process with a view to the project being completed by 2020.
