Richard Bruton
Question:1003. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the reforms in the Family Courts which have been initiated; and if he will report the progress to date. [17752/23]
View answerTuesday, 18 April 2023
Questions (1003)
Written answers
Among the key justice commitments in the Programme for Government is the commitment to, “enact a Family Court Bill to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and provide for court procedures that support a less-adversarial resolution of disputes”.
The Family Courts Bill 2022 was published last December and is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas, having completed second stage in Seanad Éireann in February this year.
The Family Courts Bill provides for the creation of new dedicated Family Courts as divisions within the existing court structures, with Family Court judges who will have specialist training and experience assigned on a full-time basis.
Government approval for the publication of the Family Courts Bill coincided with the publication of the first National Family Justice Strategy, which aims to establish a strong foundation for a future system which is more child and family-centred, which supports, responds and protects, and which is more streamlined and user-friendly.
Delivery of the Strategy’s nine goals and over 50 actions is overseen by the Family Justice Implementation Group, which meets once a quarter to monitor and review progress. The Group last met on 24th March.
In particular, the Strategy recognises importance of putting children at the centre of family justice in matters which affect them, and adequately hearing their voice. To that end, the Minister brought forward an action to examine the role of expert reports – including section 47 and 32 reports – in the family law process. This priority action includes examining their commissioning and general availability, their content and their use in family law cases. This work has commenced with a set of recommendations to be produced by the end of the year.
Work is also progressing on the review of the enforcement of child maintenance orders, due to be completed this year. The review will, if appropriate, make proposals for reform including examining whether measures can be taken to enhance the enforcement process.
Furthermore, the construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond Lane is a key project in the National Development Plan and is being delivered as part of a PPP bundle.
The Hammond Lane complex will be built with the specific needs of family law users in mind and will provide a modern facility where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment with a range of support services at hand. It will replace the present inadequate and fragmented facilities for family law in central Dublin at Dolphin House, Chancery Street, Phoenix House and in the Four Courts. The submission of the Part 9 planning application is the immediate priority for the Hammond Lane project.
My Department is committed to driving the modernisation and Digital First agenda across the entire Justice Sector. This is reflected in the additional funding of €2.5m provided in Budget 2023 for the Courts Modernisation Programme. This 10-year programme will deliver a new operating model for the Courts Service – designed around the user, with simplified and standardised services and accessible data to inform decisions – all delivered through digital solutions.
I particularly welcome the commitment set out by the Courts Service in its Corporate Strategic Plan 2021 – 2023, to maximise the use of digital technologies to provide an improved and user-centred service. The recently launched 360 virtual tours of our Court buildings, along with the newly developed, plain English family law information on the courts.ie website are positive and exciting examples of this.