The Working Group on Efficiency Measures in the Criminal Justice System in the Circuit and District Courts which reported to myself and the Chief Justice in 2012 is currently progressing initiatives to achieve greater efficiencies and reduced costs in the operations of the Circuit and District Courts.
Among the initiatives being progressed is a proposal that court hearings involving persons in custody would be centralised, where possible, at a single District Court venue within each District Court District on one nominated day per week. The proposal was initially successfully implemented in four pilot sites and it was considered that public safety risks associated with prisoners being transported to court venues with no holding cells is reduced. The Courts Service has confirmed that it intends, insofar as is possible, to further extend this system to all District Court Districts.
Athlone District Court is located in District No 9. The Courts Service has confirmed that a proposal to centralise such custody cases for District No 9 in Longford District Court is under consideration and a local consultation process is under way with a range of local stakeholders. In the absence of any significant issues arising during the consultation process it is intended to proceed with the initiative in the near future. Since the consultation process is ongoing, no specific date has yet been set for commencement.
In relation to the future use of Athlone District Court, I am informed that aside from the proposal outlined above there are no other plans to change the operations of the District Court in Athlone.
