John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this matter to be raised. I will be sharing time with Deputy Scanlon. Both of us see the importance of court in Ballymote that has served the people of the area for up to 100 years. I am glad to have the opportunity to raise this matter of the utmost importance.

It has come to light that the Courts Service of Ireland is considering closing Ballymote District Court on a permanent basis as part of its cost cutting measures. I want to make it clear to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, that any such attempt at closure of Ballymote District Court would be a retrograde step of the most serious nature. Furthermore, such a proposal makes absolutely no economic sense. Some €4.8 million has been spent on the construction and provision of a new Garda station in Ballymote, which is the district Garda headquarters, on which I compliment the Government. The new station has state-of-the-art prisoner accommodation, which includes a new juvenile detention centre, the only one of its kind in the entire Garda division of Sligo-Leitrim. Juvenile offenders from all parts of the division who are placed in custody are detained in the Ballymote facility.

There is a 24-hour garda presence, together with new traffic corps and detective unit, with offices and facilities in place to accommodate the upgraded status of Ballymote Garda station. It also houses the only divisional store for the Sligo-Leitrim division.

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