Vol. 486 No. 6
258 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has received a report on the condition of the courthouse in Youghal, County Cork; and, if so, if he will make a report on this to Dáil Éireann; the action, if any, that he will take as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3249/98]
295 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whether his Department has received a report on the condition of the courthouse in Youghal, County Cork; if so, if he will give details of the report; the action, if any, he intends to take as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3348/98]
296 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whether court sittings are taking place at present in Youghal, County Cork; and, if not, the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 258, 295 and 296 together.
Following an inspection of Youghal courthouse by officials of my Department, Cork County Council was asked in July last year to appoint a structural engineer to prepare a report on the courthouse. This report was received recently by the county council which sought clarification in relation to a number of aspects of the report. The structural report and subsequent clarification was received in my Department on 3 February 1998. The report represents a full structural survey of the building and provides possible solutions to the problems highlighted in the report.
Having considered the structural engineer's report my Department has supplied Cork County Council with an outline of court accommodation requirements in Youghal and has suggested a strategy to progress this project. It is not possible to provide a timescale for the provision of modern court and court office accommodation in Youghal at present but I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to providing modern court facilities in Youghal as quickly as possible. With regard to the future of court sittings in Youghal I understand that the District Court judge has recently adjourned sittings of the District Court to Dungarvan until further notice. This is the decision of the judge and I have no function in the matter.
