Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised)

2:00 am

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. We enacted legislation last year, the Family Courts Act 2024. An implementation body is in place to ensure that what is set out in the legislation is implemented. It is not within that funding, but once the report of the implementation body comes to me and sets out how we need to implement the changes made under the Family Courts Act, there will be funding available for that in respect of what needs to be done. I can assure the Deputy of that. The proposal is to ensure that family courts are places where there will be support and wrap-around services for people who come. If you go to the family court, you know you will have a mediation service available if needs be, there will be support services around it as well, and there will be judges who are expert in family law. That funding will be provided but first of all, we need to ensure that the implementation plan is in place. That body is reporting to me soon.