asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider removing the responsibility for the upkeep of courthouses from local authorities, as this responsibility is a grave financial hardship to them at present.
Written Answers. - Courthouse Maintenance.
249.
The Courthouses (Provision and Maintenance) Act, 1935, obliges local authorities to provide and maintain in their functional areas such courthouse accommodation as the Minister for Justice shall direct and to remove that responsibility from local authorities would require legislation.
On the general question of future legislation I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 153, 154 and 155 of 1 April 1982, in which I explained the difficulty of making useful statements on this matter at Question Time.
I can, of course, say that I am very conscious of the difficulties in the present arrangement but whether legislation on the lines advocated is the best solution is another matter.