Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In respect of Hammond Lane, funding has been allocated, which is one of the most significant elements. The design stage is being finalised. Once that happens, it will go to tender. There is quite a large hole in the ground so a bit of work has been done but quite a significant amount of work needs to be done. I would like to see it as soon as possible. If the design can be concluded as quickly as possible, and I believe it is nearing an end stage, we will move to the tender process and things can progress quickly.

The Family Courts Bill is a huge body of work that looks not just at the physical infrastructure but the system itself and how people go through it and the ancillary supports. It is similar to what we are doing with the domestic and sexual violence piece with regard to a person's journey if he or she goes through the courts. The legislation will be worked on for most of next year but I wish to alert Deputies that early next year, while we have an implementation group consisting of the specific agencies that must implement the changes, there will be separate engagement with NGOs and representative groups and public consultation to allow people to have an input into the legislation and what is being proposed so far in the heads of Bill that are published. It is a huge body of work that will take most of next year but, obviously, once that is in place, I would like to see Hammond Lane and other pieces of work progress as well. There is a question around the family court structure, whether we will use existing courthouses and whether they will be designated particular days or whether we need to develop or build new structures. We must then decide where they will be so a body of work needs to be done. I will engage with Deputies on those issues early in the new year.