Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State very much. I acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy Harris, is dealing with Priority Questions in the Dáil this morning. I accept entirely and understand that he is not able to be here. I am grateful to the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber.

I acknowledge what the Minister of State said about the progress made in the Department on streamlining courts processes through investment in technology. Every user of the court, whoever it may be, whether a lawyer, litigant, witness or garda, welcomes the opportunity to have a more efficient and effective Courts Service.

I note the Minister of State made no specific mention of the creation of additional physical spaces. Could he convey to the Minister the need for more courtrooms, if I can put it as bluntly as that? We need more rooms in which cases can take place. The wonderful thing about Dublin is that we have many courthouses that are no longer in use. Balbriggan and Swords courthouses, for example, operate on alternate days. Rathfarnham has a courthouse. Not long ago, there was talk of closing Dún Laoghaire courthouse. Thankfully, that did not go ahead. There are courthouses in Dublin and towns throughout the country that could be reused. They could be brought up to specification and used for cases to take pressure off the central buildings. I ask the Minister of State to bring back to the Department the need to actually create physical spaces as well as the technological environment for improved cases.