James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are allowed to carry over up to 10% of an unspent capital fund from a particular year into the following year. Due to the Covid pandemic, a number of building projects probably faced challenging situations when it came to spending money, which we have seen across the construction sector. In that context, it would be expected that funding would be carried over. As we know, there is an ambitious plan in the national development plan to refurbish and build courthouses. We certainly hope that can be carried out as quickly as possible. I understand that the Naas site will be purchased from the capital carryover to 2022. That purchase is in process at the moment. The funding is very much tied and connected to the situation in Naas and that is being actively pursued.

On other courthouses, Tralee courthouse, for example, currently comprises two courtrooms and is located on Ashe Street, as Deputy Daly will be fully aware. There has been a challenge there. For some time now, the Courts Service has been seeking a suitable site for a courthouse in Tralee. A number of options have been explored in this regard, including the Island of Geese site, which is in the town centre, is in council ownership and is the preferred option. Discussions between the Courts Service and Kerry County Council in respect of this site are ongoing. Earlier in the year, the site was assessed as suitable for a courthouse development by the OPW's architectural services. Evaluation of the portion of the site under consideration for courthouse development has been received from Kerry County Council. That will, hopefully, allow the negotiations to be furthered. It is understood that the disposal of the Island of Geese site to the Courts Service will require the approval of the full council. A key consideration for the council in this regard is the future of Ashe Street courthouse when the Courts Service vacate it. There are a number of moving parts around the Tralee site, but finding a solution to that situation is being actively pursued.

On the earlier question on clothing, every number of years clothing and accessories are tendered for on a competitive basis in a bundle. I am told that it is tendered on a bundled basis rather than on a piecemeal basis year-on-year.

The situation in relation to other courts improved in terms of accessibility and trials as Covid went on as various courts improved their ICT equipment. Particular ICT capabilities are needed to be able to use a court for a jury trial. A number of courts had their abilities improved. With the court modernisation, improving that ICT right across the courts system is a critical priority for the Courts Service and for the Department of Justice so that we can get all our courthouses up to standard as quickly as possible, but obviously during the Covid pandemic, everything is a challenge.