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Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

Questions (207, 208)

John Brady

Question:

207. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice the plans to refurbish the vacant Wicklow District Court in Wicklow town; and the engagement with the OPW to carry out any demolition works at the site. [24951/21]

View answer

John Brady

Question:

208. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice the status of the transfer of the old vacant courthouse on the Boghall Road, Bray, County Wicklow to Wicklow County Council; the details of the engagement with the council; and if a timeframe for the transfer will be provided. [24952/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.

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 its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding Wicklow Courthouses and the Courts Service has provided me with the following update on this matter.

The National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027 includes a number of courthouse development projects, including for Wicklow Town.

The Courts Service advises that its highest priority at present is the Hammond Lane Family Law complex, for which they are currently finalising the business case, as required under the public spending code. The five regional city and county town venues listed in the NDP including Wicklow are currently the next highest priorities for the Courts Service after Hammond Lane.

Specifically in relation to Wicklow, the Courts Service advises that 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 and 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. The Courts Service will need to go through the Part IX planning process in advance of this work. The Courts Service has been in contact with the Office of Public Works (OPW) about these works and it is intended that they will proceed subject to funding being available and the OPW's resource availability. However, at this time the Courts Service is not in a position to indicate when these demolition works will begin.

The former courthouse on Boghall Road in Bray has been vacant since 2006, when court sittings and services were relocated to alternative accommodation in the town centre. While the National Development Plan provides for the construction of county town type court facilities at various locations including Bray, the Boghall Road site is considered unsuitable in terms of both size and location. The Courts Service has no plans for this building at present and it is considered to be surplus to its requirements. The Courts Service is willing to explore a transfer of the property to Wicklow County Council for alternative public use. The Courts Service has been in contact with Wicklow County Council in this regard and the building has been inspected by engineers acting on behalf of the Council to determine its overall condition and to identify any concerns.

The Government is committed to ensuring adequate resources for the courts in order to maintain access to justice for all citizens. This commitment was reinforced recently with the highest ever budgetary allocation for the Justice sector including €158.8 million for the Courts Service.

Question No. 208 answered with Question No. 207.
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