Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

Some courts in Kerry are not suitable as family courts. They have no privacy whatsoever. I have heard of a number of very sensitive cases where divided families are grouped with a number of families and abuse has been thrown. That is not good enough in this day and age and must be addressed.

Is there anyone present who can look into the old courthouse in Killorglin? It was closed a number of years ago. There was a public-private partnership carried out between Kerry County Council and Fexco. It was supposed to be for the new courthouse. I have raised this time and again over a number of years both as a councillor and here. Can it be looked into? It is a loss for the town of Killorglin. Do we have any update on Tralee Courthouse?

I have had a bee in my bonnet for many years over my last point. Coroners' fees and expenses are covered by local authorities, with the exception of Dublin for some reason. In our case, it has cost us millions of euro over the years. We should not have anything to do with the Courts Service or paying coroners' fees and expenses. I am not criticising their work at all but our funding should be spent on roads and housing, etc.; things that local authorities are specifically responsible for. I know it is being looked at but I would like to see that bill taken off Kerry County Council's budget and transferred back to the Department of justice where it rightfully belongs.