Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
135. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the rationale underpinning the allocation of funding to the refurbishment of courts under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the scoring system used; the results of this scoring system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19538/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that their objective is to provide appropriate courthouse accommodation at all provincial city and county town locations. Many courthouses have been improved since the establishment of the Courts Service but in a number of locations work remains to be done. In some cases this involves building a new courthouse, in other cases it involves refurbishing and extending the existing courthouse. In all cases it is dependant both on the availability of funding and on the Courts Service's ability to acquire a suitable site on which a new or extended courthouse can be built. The site acquisition is often a lengthy and complex process as suitable sites are generally not readily available at the required location or at a price that provides value for money.
Action No. 102 of the Action Plan for Rural Development provides for the construction or redevelopment of seven regional courthouses - with four new courthouses being built in Drogheda, Letterkenny, Limerick and Wexford and substantial refurbishment and extension of existing courthouses in Cork, Mullingar and Waterford. Funding was made available for the Justice sector under the Government's 2012 Capital Investment Programme. The Deputy will recall that I announced the signing of the PPP contract for the seven courthouses in December 2015. The Courts Service has advised that the selection methodology used by the Courts Service Building Committee was such that priority was given to provincial city and county town locations where investment in courthouse facilities was urgently required and where the Courts Service was in a position to commence work at short notice due to the availability of suitable sites. The Courts Service has further advised that work is progressing well at the seven courthouse sites and all projects will be completed by the end of 2017.
