asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, he has to take over the responsibility for courthouses; his views on whether the conditions and facilities in the majority of courthouses for the general public and the legal profession are inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Responsibility for Courthouses.
44.
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 excluding those courthouses in the Dublin area which are provided by the Office of Public Works.
To remove that responsibility from local authorities would require legislation. As the Deputy will be aware it is not the practice to indicate in the context of parliamentary questions, what proposals there are for legislative changes. Such changes are announced in the ordinary way following Government approval of the proposals.
When speaking on the Estimates for my Department last July — vol. 391, No. 5, col. 326 of the Official Report — I acknowledged that many of our courthouses are in poor condition.
Unless and until the law is changed, the responsibility for improving the condition of courthouses rests with local authorities. A review of the number of District Court venues is at persent taking place. The closure of a significant number of venues would obviously ease the burden on local authorities and would also remove some of the venues in worst condition.