Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced so that we can administer justice efficiently and effectively for everybody who comes into contact with the justice system. Judicial vacancies arise for a number of reasons, including retirements, promotion and, unfortunately, deaths in service. The aim is always to fill such vacancies at the earliest opportunity and a number have been filled recently. There are also a number of vacancies that will be filled in the coming weeks. In order to bring more strategic focus to this, I established a judicial planning working group in April 2021, in line with commitments in the programme for Government and my own justice plan. The working group is going to look at type and number of judges that we have to ensure that there is efficient and effective administration across the system as it currently stands. We are also looking at how we can improve that over the next five years and build on that work. Future judicial resourcing needs will be informed by the report and recommendations of this group. I hope to have a finalised report by the end of November, if not earlier, and possibly the beginning of November.

To help support the work of this group, the OECD was commissioned to prepare an independent review of judicial resources, including benchmarks against international comparators. This is the first time that we have undertaken such an analysis since we established our own courts. There was a bit of a delay due to the complexity of evaluating the data and analysis underpinning the research. It has taken longer than originally anticipated for the OECD to complete its work. The review is with my office. I am hoping to meet with the judicial planning working group in the coming weeks, when it will submit the final report to me. Our courts are under pressure not just due to Covid, although it has placed a significant pressure on them. Acknowledging that fact, as an interim measure we increased the number of judges in the High Court from 37 to 42 last year with the enactment of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021. In addition, section 8 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 provided for the number of High Court judges to be exceeded by a further one should the Government so agree. At my request, having consulted with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, it was decided that would be necessary. Six additional High Court judges have been appointed, acknowledging the pressure that the courts are under. Most importantly, the report will set out a much bigger figure and a timeline on implementation.

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