Written Answers Nos. 595-614
595. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide the Departmental briefing paper given to him by his officials; and the delegated powers assigned to him as Minister. [14129/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department will shortly arrange for publication of the brief provided to me upon my appointment.
596. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding will be made available to a group (details supplied) to enable it to continue to provide the service while making a move to temporary accommodation and to a permanent location; the actions taken to date to support the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14244/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 10 June 2020, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services.
A key policy priority for the DCYA is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and hence it has and continues to work intensively to support services to re-open after COVID-19. The reopening funding aims to support providers to reopen, staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.
The new funding package contains four significant elements:
1. A once-off reopening support payment for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
2. A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
3. Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
4. Resumption of DCYA ELC and SAC programmes. NCS, CCSP and TEC will be available again for children attending ELC and SAC services from 29 June.
It is hoped that this funding package will act as a significant sustainability measure for ELC and SAC service providers anticipating to reopen from 29 June.
However, a number of supports were available before the COVID-19 pandemic to improve the sustainability of services during normal times, and these remain available now. The Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care services. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. Financial supports, which are also accessed through Case Management, are available for community services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering initial, and on-going, case management assistance. All services who require support should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
I understand that the service in question has already done so and is currently exploring solutions with their local CCC and Pobal Case Management. Pobal is currently carrying out the necessary assessment, and a request for additional support will be considered by my Department once this is completed.
597. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of young persons involved in youth organisations due to the loss of the youth affairs title in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14343/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I am aware of some concerns along the lines outlined I can assure the Deputy that, despite 'Youth Affairs' not appearing in the title of the Department, it very much remains central to the remit of my Department. Funding to the Youth sector has been protected through the current period of financial challenge and I will strive to ensure that the profile of young people and their needs remains high throughout my time in office.
I am particularly keen to ensure that the needs of vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged young people are taken into account, with specific consideration of how these needs have been impacted or exacerbated by Covid-19 and the resulting restrictions.
My officials and I will continue to work closely with sectorial representatives and young people themselves to ensure that strategy and resourcing is planned carefully to support the needs of young people in an optimum way.
598. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the LINC, Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years, programme which is designed to support the inclusion of children with additional needs in the early years; when applications for funding will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14401/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe goal of AIM is to support pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience for children and families. AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs and strengths of the child and the pre-school setting.
The LINC (Leadership for Inclusion) training programme is part of AIM. LINC is a one-year higher education programme (at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications) that prepares practitioners to take on the role of Inclusion Co-ordinator in their pre-school setting. In the four years since it began in 2016/17, the LINC programme has had over 3,100 registered students. So far 2,230 practitioners have graduated from the programme, of whom more than 1,900 have gone on to be Inclusion Co-ordinators working in ECCE pre-school settings. Students from the 4th year of LINC are expected to graduate in the coming months.
My Department is currently in the final stages of a procurement process for the provision of the next three years of delivery of a Level 6 Special Purpose Award training programme for the role of Inclusion Co-ordinator. Applications for entry onto the course for the academic year 2020/21 will open following completion of the procurement process.
Settings with a qualified Inclusion Coordinator in post are eligible for additional capitation payments as part of the ECCE pre-school programme. Plans for the reopening of the ECCE and AIM programmes for the 2020/21 programme year will be announced in the coming weeks. Information on 2020/21 additional capitation for Inclusion Coordinator posts will then be made available.
Applications for funding for the 2020/21 pre-school year under AIM Levels 5 (equipment and minor alterations) and 7 (additional assistance in the pre-school room) are already open.
599. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of retrospective reports of child sexual violence which Tusla has categorised as founded and unfounded for each of the past 12 months of 2019, in tabular form from the data in the NIIS, national immunisation information system, in each of the three categories in which this data is recorded; the intake record, initial assessment form and referral record screen; if this information is not available, the reason the NIIS is not being completed and these figures not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14408/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
600. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of referrals relating to children concerning child sexual violence which Tusla has categorised as founded and unfounded for each of the past 12 months of 2019, in tabular form from the data in the NIIS, national immunisation information system, in each of the three categories in which this data is recorded, that is, the intake record, initial assessment form and referral record screen; if this information is not available, the reason the NIIS is not being completed and these figures not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14409/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
601. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childcare providers that are drawing down Covid-19 supports are permitted to increase fees to parents from September 2020 onwards for crèches that experience a fall in the number of children returning on 29 June 2020; the supports available if they cannot afford to cover costs and are already drawing down funding from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14460/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarly learning and care and school age childcare services are all private enterprises with 25% of them operating on a not for profit basis. The majority of services are contracted with my Department to provide schemes which subsidise the cost of the service to eligible parents, or in the case of the universal pre-school programme, ECCE, to provide these 15 hours per week at no cost to the parent. Providers are generally free to set their own policies regarding the charging of fees for services other than ECCE.
Two recent exception to the general freedom of services to set their own fees policies were:
- the requirement that services in receipt of the Temporary Wage Subsidy for Childcare Scheme (over April, May and June) could not charge any fees to parents, and
- the requirement that services which are reopening over the summer, and are in receipt of a Reopening Support Payment, cannot increase their fees above the level which was charged in March 2020, before the Covid closures.
Now that a majority of childcare services that normally open over the summer have reopened, my Department, together with representatives of the sector, is currently reviewing proposals for the full reopening of the sector in late August / early September. This review includes consideration of potential State supports for the sector to assist it to retain capacity in the short term as the economy recovers and more people return to work and require childcare. Just as my Department has done since creches were closed on March 12, we are committed to providing any essential financial support to ensure that businesses remain sustainable. We hope to finalise our assessment of essential need and to develop a proposal for Government approval within the coming weeks. It is our intention that this proposed funding will cover any additional costs arising from COVID and prevent services having to pass on any increased costs to parents.
Separately, any service provider in financial difficulty can request State support and advice through a Case Management process which my Department delivers through the local County Childcare Committees (CCC’s) and Pobal. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. Financial supports are available for community services which are facing sustainability issues. Providers in need of support should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
602. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some childcare providers are asking parents to sign a contract for a childcare service which includes the clause that parents must pay during mandated closures as directed by the HSE or another agency; if childcare providers are entitled to insert this clause if drawing down Covid-19 payments recently announced by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14461/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not provide early learning and care services. Childcare services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. Services are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents. Providers are free to set their own policies regarding the charging of fees. The current contracts between the Department and providers do not deal with the issue of services charging fees during periods when the services are closed.
With regard to the charging of fees during the March-June Covid related closure period, services which signed up to my Department's Temporary Wage Subsidy for Childcare Scheme (TWSCS), were not permitted to charge any fees during the closure period.
I would encourage parents who are experiencing difficulties with any aspect of service provision to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for all of the CCCs are available at www.myccc.ie.
603. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the situation facing a childcare facility (details supplied) whose childcare capital grant application was suspended will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14472/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has, since 2015, administered an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services providers are invited to apply for capital funding to increase capacity and to maintain and improve their services.
The 2020 Capital programme was launched on 26 February with a budget of €7.2million. However, it was necessary, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, to suspend the 2020 Capital programme on March 26.
On 10 June 2020 a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care services which included an additional €7m in Capital funding, resulting in a total budget of €14.2 million which was shared between all services.
A key policy priority for my department is the sustainability of the sector and I believe the best use of capital funding in 2020 will be made through supporting existing services to reopen after the closure period, and to support them meet the reopening guidance.
The application process for the 2020 Capital programme, which is administered by Pobal, is open for applications on the Early Years Platform the (Hive) until 28 August 2020.
604. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the removal of youth affairs from the title of his Department; his further views on whether this will result in a lack of focus on young persons under 25 years of age who will bear a considerable burden of Covid-19 in particular those from disadvantaged communities(details supplied) [14499/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to assure the Deputy that, despite 'Youth Affairs' not appearing in the title of the new Department, it very much remains central to the remit of my Department. Funding to the Youth sector has been protected through the current period of financial challenge and I will strive to ensure that the profile of young people and their needs remains high throughout my time in office.
I am particularly keen to ensure that the needs of vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged young people are taken into account, with specific consideration of how these needs have been impacted or exacerbated by Covid-19 and the resulting restrictions.
My officials and I will continue to work closely with sectorial representatives and young people themselves to ensure that strategy and resourcing is planned carefully to support the needs of young people in an optimum way.
605. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the evidence for the commitment to support youth, that is, young persons between ten and 25 years of age who are most marginalised in society when Covid-19 passes (details supplied) [14500/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to report that funding to the youth sector has been protected through the recent period of extraordinary challenge. I want to assure the Deputy of my commitment to young people and the youth sector that provides such crucial support to them.
I am particularly keen to ensure that the needs of vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged young people are taken into account, with specific consideration of how these needs have been impacted or exacerbated by Covid-19 and the resulting restrictions.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department funds UBU - Your Place Your Space which opened on 1st July. This new scheme provides funding, in the region of €39 million annually, to youth services which support young people. The scheme targets young people aged between 10 – 24 years who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or marginalised. The first cycle of UBU - Your Place Your Space runs to December 2023, incorporating a new reporting and continuous improvement approach as part of the model. My Department also funds more universally focussed, volunteer led, youth work through the Youth Service Grant Scheme.
The youth sector has responded quickly to the current crisis, adapting and innovating in order to maintain supports for vulnerable young people. I greatly appreciate the efforts of key representatives from the youth sector in assisting my Department to develop and update Guidance for Youth Organisations on Resuming Full Services after Covid-19, in line with the Government Roadmap .
The Department has also worked with a Youth Advisory Group to design a national consultation with young people on health and well-being as we learn to live with COVID-19. The consultation, 'How’s Your Head – Young Voices during Covid-19' will assist in providing a deeper understanding of what young people have found difficult during COVID-19, what changes in their lives they would like to keep going forward, and what would help young people to improve their mental health and well-being over the coming summer months and beyond. The findings from the consultation will be documented to inform relevant service design and delivery for young people. It will also assist Government in developing other appropriate policy responses on the issues raised by young people leading to a more informed whole of society response to COVID-19 as relevant to the lives of young people.
606. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will publish the Departmental briefing paper on his role, remits and powers afforded to him upon appointment to the Cabinet. [14519/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department will shortly arrange for publication of the brief provided to me upon my appointment.
607. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to draft an order to extend parents leave to nine weeks as outlined in section 5, Part 8 of the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14005/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that my department has introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of these demands.
Presently, each parent may avail of two weeks of parent’s leave during the first year of a child’s life and may qualify for parent’s benefit during this period. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to increase parent’s leave and this matter is currently under consideration.
608. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the Minister and Department responsible for immigration. [14093/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently responsible for the management and delivery of immigration and decisions on international protection for the State and these functions will remain under my remit.
However, as announced by the Taoiseach on the 27th June, some of the responsibilities of my Department will be changing in the coming weeks and months. The responsibility for provision and coordination of State supports to international protection applicants, managed by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department, is to transfer to the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration.
Any transfer of functions between Departments is guided by the Government handbook “Transfer of Functions and Best Practice Handbook.” To ensure a smooth transition, and in accordance with the Handbook, my Department has established a working group, to identify functions to be transferred on foot of the new allocation of responsibilities between Departments.
609. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if discussions have taken place between her Department and the Garda Commissioner to examine the current divisional boundaries that separate adjoining estates and areas in Drogheda, County Louth, and County Meath, respectively (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13748/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and operations of An Garda Síochána. As assigning divisional boundaries is an operational matter, the Commissioner is responsible and I as Minister have no direct role in these matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that at a recent Louth JPC meeting which the Commissioner attended on 6 March 2020, he indicated that the matters raised in respect of the boundary alignment would be considered as part of the phased rollout of the new Garda Operating Model.
The current Garda divisions of Louth and Meath were created in 2008 alignment to align with the local authority boundaries. As the Deputy will be aware, while the Meath county boundary in the main falls on the southern side of the river Boyne, there are sections where the Louth county boundary crosses the river to the south bank. These areas are urbanised and form part of the town of Drogheda. There are some areas, which have been developed over the years leading to the expansion of Drogheda into County Meath. The areas featured include the M1 Retail Park, Avourwen Meadow, Copi Cross, Platin Road, Lagavooreen and Grangerath. These locations, although within the Meath Division, are served from Drogheda Garda station by way of local policing arrangement between management in both Garda Divisions.
As the Deputy will be aware, the new operating model for An Garda Síochána was recommended by independent policing specialists, including the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, and in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI). Rollout of this new model meets a key commitment in A Policing Service for the Future , the four year implementation plan giving effect to the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
I understand from the Garda authorities that the new model is being implemented on a phased basis throughout 2020 and that the Commissioner and his team are meeting with Joint Policing Committees across Ireland, providing opportunities for detailed engagement at the local level.
610. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the recourse available to a person who did not receive a satisfactory response to a complaint to a body (details supplied); if the State can appoint representation to a person in a such a case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13809/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince commencement of the relevant provisions on 7 October 2019, the first point of contact for new complaints in relation to the professional conduct of solicitors and barristers is the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) which is the independent regulator for the provision of legal services in the State.
I am assuming from the overall context of the Deputy’s question, however, that the complaint in question was lodged under the preceding regulatory framework which applies under the relevant provisions of the Solicitors’ Acts. Under that legislation, the Law Society is the designated regulatory body for solicitors and the following procedures will apply to any ongoing complaints the Society has on hand:
The Law Society, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator are the independent statutory bodies charged with investigating or resolving complaints against solicitors under the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 and their attendant regulations.
I wish to point out that it would not be appropriate for any member of the Government or Department Officials to intervene, either directly or indirectly, in this statutory process or any related quasi-judicial proceedings that come before the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal.
Under the Solicitors’ Acts, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator also provides an independent forum to which members of the public may apply if they are dissatisfied with the manner in which the Law Society has dealt with any complaint made by or on behalf of any client against their solicitor. The role of the Independent Adjudicator is:
1. to ensure that complaints about the conduct of a solicitor are dealt with fairly and impartially by the Law Society;
2. to review complaints about any decision by the Law Society concerning an application for a grant from the Law Society’s Compensation Fund;
3. to recommend any changes in the Law Society’s complaints procedures which are, in the Independent Adjudicator’s view, necessary to maintain the highest standards.
The holder of the Office cannot be a practising solicitor, a member of the Law Society or a practising barrister and shall be independent in the exercise of his or her functions. At the same time, it is important to note that the Adjudicator’s role is to investigate the handling of the complaint by the Law Society and not to investigate the substance of the complaint itself.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal deals with complaints of serious misconduct and such complaints are either referred to it by the Law Society or have been made directly to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal by members of the public. The Tribunal members are appointed by the President of the High Court and act independently of the Law Society. I would point out that, subject to the relevant provisions of the Solicitors' Acts, it is open to any person who has made a complaint to the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal to make an appeal to the High Court where the Tribunal has not made a finding of misconduct in respect of the solicitor against whom that complaint has been made.
In addition to the remedies available under the statutory complaints handling framework that I have just outlined, it is important to be aware that aggrieved clients of solicitors may also choose to seek redress through the courts. This typically arises in cases of alleged negligence on the part of a solicitor which have had serious negative consequences for the client concerned. As with any court proceedings, it is considered prudent that persons considering taking such legal action seek independent legal advice on the strength or otherwise of their case, any limitations that may apply in relation to the passing of time and its possible legal costs implications. Ultimately, it will be a matter for the aggrieved client concerned to decide which course of action might be best suited to the circumstances of their particular case.
611. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the proposed new restrictions by the EU member states on incoming flights from the United States of America due to Covid-19 mitigation measures will include a ban on EU citizens accessing the EU from destinations in the United States of America; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13821/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to the recent European Council decision on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel in the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction. The measure in question constitutes a development of the Schengen Acquis in which Ireland does not participate, therefore Ireland is not taking part in its adoption. The Deputy may wish to note however that the recommendation clearly states that EU citizens are exempt from any restrictions and can travel to EU states from third countries.
While not a matter specific to my Department, the Government is giving consideration to a possible roadmap for the resumption of safe international travel. In accordance with Government policy, which is based on the official public health advice, the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to advise against all non-essential travel overseas. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland.
612. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention been drawn to the significant delays in the court system; if priority is being given to the scheduling of violent and sexual assault cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13880/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 provided the following update on this matter.
The Courts Service is working in cooperation with the judiciary and other stakeholders to increase the amount of criminal business being dealt with by the courts, whilst ensuring appropriate social distancing for staff, judges, legal practitioners, jurors, Gardaí and others associated with criminal prosecutions. The Courts Service is in the process of identifying suitable venues where jury call-overs and jury trials can be held and is assessing the maximum numbers that can safely attend each courtroom and courthouse throughout the country.
The Courts Service is planning to have jury trials commencing in the Central Criminal Court and Circuit Criminal Court from September. The prioritisation of cases is a matter for the relevant court to decide.
On the broader reform agenda in this area, the review of the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences is being carried out by a working group chaired by Tom O’ Malley, Senior Lecturer in Law at the National University of Ireland, Galway and member of the Law Reform Commission. The working group includes representatives of the Garda Síochána, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Probation Service, the Courts Service and the Department of Justice and Equality. The review is examining the adequacy of measures available to protect vulnerable witnesses during the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences, to help ensure the best quality evidence is available to the jury in making their decision, while respecting the dignity of the victim and their right not to be re-victimised by the investigation or trial process itself. It is examining the entire legal process around sexual offences, from the initial reporting of an offence through to the end of any court proceedings, including the causes of delay in sexual offence trials, and the effect of delay upon vulnerable witnesses. The review is particularly concerned with the treatment of complainants and vulnerable witnesses throughout this process.
The process is now at the final stages and a report is expected to be received by my Department in the very near future.
The recommendations of the review, when complete, will be given very careful consideration alongside the recent work of the Law Reform Commission on Consent in Rape Law.
613. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider increasing the upper age limit for parental leave by one year, with particular reference to the ongoing restrictions concerning Covid-19 and the fact that parents who currently have saved parental leave to use may not get a chance to use it due to their child reaching 12 years of age before the end of the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13888/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that my department has introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of these demands.
When the first Parental Leave Act was enacted in 1998, parental leave ended on the day on which the child concerned attained the age of 5 years. This age limit was increased in 2006 to 8 years by the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2006 and further increased in 2019 to 12 years by the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019. There are currently no plans to increase this age limit.
It should be noted too that, in addition to parental leave, each parent may also avail of two weeks of parent’s leave during the first year of a child’s life and may qualify for parent’s benefit during this period. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to increase parent’s leave and this matter is currently under consideration.
614. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the reopening of Wicklow courthouse; the stage the refurbishment works are at; when it is anticipated that these works will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13897/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 provided the following update on this matter.
A number of projects in relation to Courts Service accommodation requirements are outlined in the Government's National Development Plan 2018 - 2027. They include the:
1. Provision of further new or refurbished courthouses in provincial cities and county towns where facilities remain sub-standard (including Galway city, Wicklow town, Portlaoise, Tralee and Roscommon) and further provincial locations such as An Clochán Liath (Dungloe) to serve as the Gaeltacht Court for the region, and Tuam.
2. Family Law and Children Court complex at Hammond Lane.
3. Redevelopment and modernisation of the Four Courts following completion of the Hammond Lane project as a campus for Civil courts.
4. Construction of standard county town type court facilities at a number of locations in county Dublin (outside of the city centre) and also in North Kildare, Bray and Navan.
5. Regional Family Law centres.
The precise allocation and timing of additional funding over the entire ten year period of the plan remains to be fully determined. It will be dependent on the outcome of further detailed planning and analysis of costs which will determine prioritisation of projects from a timing and budgetary perspective. At present, the Hammond Lane project is the priority project. In relation to the provision of new/refurbished courthouse facilities at Wicklow and the four other provincial city/county towns mentioned above, once the necessary funding is allocated and allowing time for planning, procurement and construction, a time-frame in the region of 5 years could be anticipated for delivery of these five provincial city/county town projects. Specifically, in relation to Wicklow, the existing courthouse comprising 2 courtrooms is in poor condition and has been closed for a number of years on health and safety grounds. The Courts Service has indicated that while detailed planning or design work has not yet commenced, it has purchased a number of adjacent properties, some of which will be demolished in order to create a larger site capable of accommodating a courthouse building on the scale envisaged. Pending commencement of the overall project and in order to deal with some remedial issues, the assistance of the Office of Public Works has been sought by the Courts Service to bring forward some of this demolition work.
