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Courts Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

Questions (398)

Alan Farrell

Question:

398. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the measures being taken to ensure that court facilities are appropriately structured to hear family law cases separate to other cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29938/20]

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Written answers

Under 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.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that all county towns have dedicated Family Law sittings with the exception of Roscommon, where the courthouse is currently unavailable. Some courthouses in county towns can accommodate both family law and other types of business at the same time. However, it is preferred that family law business takes place on days when other business is not scheduled.

The position regarding the range of outlying venues varies from some having dedicated Family Law days, to Family Law & Civil matters, to Family Law & Juvenile matters to all court business. Some outlying venues only sit once per month so all business must be transacted at that one sitting.

While some courthouses have more than one courtroom to facilitate a Family Law sitting and a Criminal sitting at the one time in separate courtrooms, there is only one permanent District Court Judge assigned to most District Court Areas.

Domestic Violence applications are heard at any District Court sitting, as required. In addition, urgent Crime matters are also heard at any District Court sitting, as required.

With Covid-19, the Courts Service’s ability to use all the courtrooms at the same time also depends on the expected footfall compared with the capacity of individual courtrooms, the foyer area of the courthouse, as well as ancillary facilities.

The following table outlines the situation in courthouses nationwide.

Courthouse

Dedicated / No Dedicated Family Law sittings

Number of Courtrooms in each Courthouse to accommodate a family law court & a criminal court sitting in a different part of the same courthouse.

Achill

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Ardee

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Arklow

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Athlone

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Athy

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Ballaghaderreen

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Ballina

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Ballinasloe

Dedicated Family Law sittings

2 Courtrooms

Ballyshannon

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Bandon

Dedicated Family Law sittings

2 Courtrooms

Bantry

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Belmullet

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Bray

Dedicated Family Law sittings

3 Courtrooms

Buncrana

Family Law & Civil matters listed in same sittings

2 Courtrooms

Caherciveen

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Carlow

Dedicated Family Law sittings

2 Courtrooms

Carndonagh

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Carrick on Shannon

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Carrick on Suir

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Cashel

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Castlebar

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Castlerea

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Cavan

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Clifden

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Clonakilty

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Clonmel

Dedicated Family Law sittings

3 Courtrooms

Cork City (Washington Street)

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Separate Venue / Building

Derrynea

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Dingle

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Donegal

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Drogheda

Dedicated Family Law sittings

2 Courtrooms

Dublin District Family Law (Dolphin House)

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Separate Venue / Building

Dundalk

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple courtrooms

Dungarvan

Family Law & Civil matters listed in same sittings

1 Courtroom

Dungloe

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Ennis

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Falcarragh

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Fermoy

Family Law & Juveniles listed in same sittings

2 Courtrooms

Galway

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Galway

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Gorey

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Gort

Family Law & Civil matters listed in same sittings

1 Courtroom

Kenmare

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Kilkenny

Dedicated Family Law sittings

4 Courtrooms

Killaloe

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Killarney

Dedicated Family Law with some Civil matters

1 Courtroom

Kilmallock

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Kilronan

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Kilrush

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Letterkenny

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Limerick (Merchants Quay)

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Separate Venue / Building

Lismore

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Listowel

Dedicated Family Law with some Civil matters

1 Courtroom

Longford

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple courtrooms

Loughrea

Dedicated Family Law sittings

2 Courtrooms

Macroom

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Mallow

Family Law & Juveniles listed in same sittings

2 Courtrooms

Manorhamilton

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Meath (Trim - Crime & Navan -FL)

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Midleton

Family Law & Juveniles listed in same sittings

1 Courtroom

Monaghan

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple courtrooms

Mullingar

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple courtrooms

Naas

Dedicated Family Law sittings

4 Courtrooms

Nenagh

Dedicated Family Law sittings

2 Courtrooms

Newcastlewest

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Portlaoise

Dedicated Family Law sittings

2 Courtrooms

Roscommon

No dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Skibbereen

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1Courtroom

Sligo

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple Courtrooms

Strokestown

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

The Glenties

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Thurles

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Tipperary Town

Currently sitting in Nenagh Courthouse

N/A

Tralee

Dedicated Family Law sittings

2 Courtrooms

Tuam

Family Law & Civil matters listed in same sittings

1 Courtroom

Tubbercurry

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1Courtroom

Tullamore

Dedicated Family Law sittings

Multiple courtrooms

Virginia

No dedicated Family Law sittings

1 Courtroom

Waterford

Dedicated Family Law sittings

6 Courtrooms

Wexford

Dedicated Family Law sittings

4 Courtrooms

Youghal

Dedicated Family Law sittings

1Courtroom

I have also recently published the General Scheme of a Family Court Bill, which provides for the establishment of a District Family Court, a Circuit Family Court and a Family High Court as divisions within the existing court structures. The enactment of this Bill is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. The General Scheme of the Family Court Bill aims to streamline family court processes to make them more efficient and user-friendly, while encouraging greater use of alternative dispute resolution. The proposals in the General Scheme of the Family Court Bill are a result of a broad consideration as to the best means of providing access to various family law mechanisms available to those families involved in private family law cases.

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