Vol. 461 No. 8
69 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, in existence in her Department to provide extra courts to deal with the backlog in criminal and civil cases in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3819/96]
Delays in the hearing of court cases are a matter of serious concern. To address this problem the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995, increased the maximum number of judges who may be appointed to the courts. On 30 January 1996 I obtained Government approval for the appointment of 15 additional judges, three to the Supreme Court; two to the High Court, seven to the Circuit Court and three to the District Court. All of the additional Supreme and High Court judges will be located in Dublin. Two of the additional Circuit Court judges and at least one of the additional District Court judges will be permanently assigned to Dublin.
I have requested the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board to submit to me a list of suitable candidates for appointment as judges to the various courts in accordance with the provisions of the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995. When I receive the board's submissions I will put the matter to Government.
The extra accommodation required for the additional judges has been identified and will be available to the new judges when they are appointed.
I am satisfied that the additional judges will provide the courts in Dublin and around the country with the resources they require to effectively tackle the backlog of cases for hearing.
