Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
964. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the redevelopment of the Family Law and Children’s Court complex on Hammond Lane, Dublin 7; the estimated cost of delivery; when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15987/20]
View answerUnder 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.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to build a new Family Law Court building in Dublin and ensure that court facilities across the country are suitable for family law hearings, so that these hearings can be held separately from other cases.
The total capital budget for the Courts Service in 2020 is €66.017 million, €15.380 million of which will be allocated for courthouse capital works for a variety of courthouses around the country and which will also allow for ongoing preparatory work on a dedicated Dublin Family Court complex on Hammond Lane. My Department has, working with the Courts Service, been able to secure sufficient additional funding to allow the Hammond Lane Project to go ahead.
While I can’t confirm exact figures as the future project will have to go to public tender, it will provide enough to deliver a modern, fit for purpose family court in Dublin.
This New Family Courts Project in Hammond Lane will be an important step towards reforming the family courts system in Ireland. I hope to bring my proposals to modernise the family justice system to Government in the coming weeks.
