Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-North Leitrim, Independent)

It is an important issue and I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on it. As Deputy Perry said, Ballymote court has been operating for more than 100 years. Quite recently a new Garda headquarters was built in Ballymote at a cost of almost €5 million. At the moment there are 34 gardaí, four sergeants and one superintendent. It covers a vast area from Enniscrone right across to Carrick-on-Shannon in the south. The courts operate on every second Tuesday and, at certain times of the year, every fourth Tuesday, with a total of 18 court sittings per year. The last court sitting in Ballymote started at 11 a.m. and finished at 7 p.m., which indicates the level of activity owing to the number of courts that have been moved to the Ballymote area.

I understand the court is proposed to be closed for cost-saving reasons. It is important to point out that the Courts Service is totally independent of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. While I have heard of many cost-saving proposals, this is the most ludicrous I have heard in my time in politics for the past 21 years. When the courts move, the gardaí will need to move with the court, which will mean overtime payments for those gardaí who will need to travel to Tubbercurry or Sligo. It will cost substantially more than the savings expected to be made with the current proposals.

The new Garda station has cells and a juvenile detention centre - the only one of its kind in the county. To move the court away from where we have these services and facilities would be a backward step. I implore the Minister to use whatever influence he has to try to get these people to see some sense. Funding should be made available for the upgrade of what is a very historic building in the town, which will go into disrepair without such funding.

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