asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that litigants from Kilbrittan, Co. Cork, have to travel twelve miles to Clonakilty District Court; and whether, in view of the fact that the old courthouse in which courts were held fortnightly under the old régime is still available at Timoleague, he will arrange for a monthly sitting of the court at Timoleague.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - SUGGESTED MONTHLY COURT FOR TIMOLEAGUE.
The following is the Minister's reply:—I am aware that some residents in the most easterly parts of Kilbrittan may have to travel about twelve miles in order to attend Clonakilty District Court, but I am not satisfied that that circumstance constitutes any very striking hardship, or that it is desirable to reopen the court at Timoleague. Attendance at a District Court is not a very frequent incident in a countryman's life. I take it that if any one person found it necessary to make this journey once every year, on an average, he would be considered rather litigious. It is the opinion of the Department, and the opinion seems to be shared by almost everybody, that there were too many Petty Sessions Courts under the old régime, and it must be remembered that more courts mean more District Justices and more District Court Clerks. We have in fact about halved the number of courts, and obviously that cannot be done without making the journey to court somewhat longer than formerly.
The most I can promise the Deputy is to keep the matter in view when the District Courts under the Court of Justice Act are being settled.