PAC to examine matters related to the Courts Service

The focus of the PAC’s examination will be the 2018 Appropriation  Account of the service.

The primary functions of the Court Service are to administer and manage the courts, support the judiciary, provide information on the courts system to the public and provide court buildings and facilities for court users.

In carrying out its functions, the Courts Service spent €135 million in 2018. Of this, €52.5 million related to pay, €15.5 million to courthouse maintenance and 12.3 million to office equipment and external IT services.

The Courts Service is also responsible for the collection of certain fines and fees payable to the Exchequer while others are collected on behalf of other Government Departments.

In 2018, nearly €7 million was transferred to the Exchequer, €5.4 million of which related to Road Traffic Act fines, while €5.8 million was transferred to other Government Departments the bulk of which was paid to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of revenue fines and excise duty.

Chairman of the PAC, Seán Fleming TD, said: “The Committee will examine matters relating to the 2018 Appropriation Account of the Courts Service, and the details of the internal financial controls regime in place. Furthermore, the PAC will examine how the service can demonstrate that value for money is being achieved for the public funds it administers, and also the efficiency of the fines collection system and the completeness and accuracy of the amounts collected.”

The meeting, in Committee room 3 can be viewed live