Brian Stanley
Ceist:6. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made by the OPW on securing a site for a new courthouse in Portlaoise. [10490/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 2 March 2017
Ceisteanna (6)
Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)
My question relates to the OPW and the securing of a new site for a badly needed courthouse in Portlaoise. The Courts Service was centralised in various counties over recent years. All court cases in Laois are currently being held in Portlaoise, which has resulted in a very busy building. What progress is being made on the matter?
The Office of Public Works has no direct role in the purchase of sites for the Courts Service. On request, the OPW provides professional advice to other Departments and offices, including the Courts Service. At the request of the Courts Service, the OPW is currently examining potential sites for a new courthouse in Portlaoise. The purchase of a site and provision of accommodation is ultimately a decision for that organisation.
I am aware that the OPW will not carry out the work, but it is involved. It is its job to find a suitable site. The Department of Justice and Equality passed us back to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I originally tabled the question to the Minister for Justice and Equality.
The current courthouse on the main street is totally unsuitable. There are no parking areas and prison vans are parked on each side of Church Street on sitting days. There are no holding cells, which means that prisoners are held in vans on the street for long periods of time. That causes all kinds of problems for the Garda, public and everybody else.
There is a distinct lack of privacy in the building for clients to consult with solicitors or barristers, which means that a lot of communication takes place in crowded hallways. Family law courts are held in the same building and areas as other cases, which means that a person who is seeking access to children or dealing with a family law case is in the same area as hardened criminals. A number of sites have been proposed.
I agree that the Courts Service wants to build a new and modern courthouse with all of the necessary facilities in Portlaoise. It has tried to acquire a site for a number of years. The two potential sites that have been identified are being assessed by the OPW on behalf of the Courts Service. Progress with regard to the development of the court building will depend on funding.
I am glad to hear that some progress is being made. There is a site beside the Midlands Prison which local public representatives have highlighted for years. It is adjacent to the Midlands Prison and Portlaoise Prison, which would mean that prisoners would not have to be brought in convoys to and from the prison for court sittings. Other sites can be identified. There have been violent incidents outside the court building on the main street on sitting days, in addition to the other problems I have outlined.
The site at the Midlands Prison should be considered. The county council has also put forward options to the OPW. The management, staff and councillors at a local level want this matter progressed. I was asked to raise the matter with the Minister of State at the last joint policing committee. There is goodwill locally. I ask that the senior officials in the Department grab the bull by the horns, ensure that the matter is brought to a conclusion and locate a site. We can then ensure that the required capital funding is in place.
The Deputy referred to the county council. The Courts Service has had discussions with Laois County Council about the possibility of acquiring a site in Portlaoise and carrying out a joint venture. We cannot discuss the identity of any site at this stage, but all options are being considered.