The Old Model School in Anglesea Street was refurbished as the new District Courthouse in Cork city at a cost of £1.78 million. This building, now includes three courtrooms, a family law suite, judges chambers, office space, consultation rooms, legal practitioners rooms, a detention area and toilets.
When preparing the plans for the refurbishment of this building, my Department, while seeking to restore a significant historic building, was conscious of the needs of people with disabilities. Consequently the building has proper facilities installed for persons with mobility difficulties. These include car parking spaces for the disabled, ramps at the main and family law entrances, a toilet for the disabled and a position in the courtrooms from which a witness in a wheelchair can give evidence. All public areas of the courthouse with the exception of part of the court office and the legal representatives room are accessible to persons with mobility difficulties. However, such persons may conduct all their business on the ground floor as sufficient, suitable facilities have been made available at this level.