Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 October 2020
142. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice the status of remedial works for Wicklow Courthouse; the timeframe for the demolition works to the adjacent properties at Wicklow Courthouse in order to create a larger site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32143/20]
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. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter.
Wicklow Courthouse is included in a number of projects in relation to Courts Service accommodation requirements that are outlined in the previous Government's National Development Plan 2018 - 2027.
The precise allocation and timing of additional funding over the entire ten year period of the plan remains to be fully determined. It will be dependent on the outcome of further detailed planning and analysis of costs which will determine prioritisation of projects from a timing and budgetary perspective.
A courthouse comprising four courtrooms and related facilities (e.g. consultation rooms, custody facilities, facilities for juries and vulnerable witnesses, legal practitioner’s suites, etc.) is envisaged as being required to meet current and future demand in Wicklow. This will require a building significantly larger than the existing two courtroom building. The Courts Service proposes to refurbish and extend the courthouse to provide the required accommodation. As a prerequisite first step, the Courts Service has acquired a number of adjoining properties that were in council ownership so as to have available a larger site capable of accommodating a courthouse building on the scale envisaged.
Facilitating works envisaged for the refurbishment and extension of Wicklow courthouse include the demolition of the 1940s extension/annex to the rear of the courthouse. In view of the fact that dry rot has spread extensively throughout the extension, the Courts Service proposes to bring this element of the facilitating works forward rather than incur the cost of treating the dry rot only to demolish the extension at a later date as part of the overall development. It will be necessary to go through the Part IX planning process in advance of this work. The Courts Service has been in contact with the state architect about these works and it is intended that they will proceed subject to funding being available and OPW resource availability in light of commitments in other areas.
