Ms Angela Denning:

Most of our courthouses are aged buildings on historic town centre sites. The courthouse in Roscommon is part of the public private partnership bundle. Part of the ceiling in the jury room recently collapsed. We had asked the OPW to look at the mechanical and electrical systems in the building. We thought the renovation would cost approximately €350,000 overall but it will cost a minimum of €450,000 just to upgrade the electrical system. We have a contingency plan in place such that if there is a further problem with the building, as an emergency measure we will move courts to Castlerea and Carrick-on-Shannon. We are in discussion with local users to see whether we can keep the court business in the town in the medium term when we close the courthouse next March for refurbishment. If another ceiling collapses or something else happens in the morning, we have an emergency contingency plan in place.