Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ward again for raising these points, which I undertake to bring back to Department of Justice officials and the Minister, Deputy Harris. I acknowledge that the Senator speaks from a level of expertise and personal experience on this matter.

The Government endeavours to fill all judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity and, as I said, a number of such vacancies have been filled recently. We have also committed to investing more than €270 million over the next five years in capital projects in the justice sector as part of the National Development Plan 2021-2030, which represents a significant increase on previous years. This includes a number of Courts Service projects to be completed during the period of the plan, including the development of the family courts complex on the Hammond Lane site in Dublin.

On an infrastructural level, the Courts Service is continuing to examine what future buildings, or changes to existing buildings, may be needed to best support court users as part of the service's modernisation programme and its implementation plan for the report of the judicial planning working group. That summary response addresses the Senator's point that there is a clear focus on physical infrastructure, not just the modernisation piece. It is appropriate that we reflect on progress being made in both areas. I undertake to bring back the points raised by the Senator about that need for additional capacity.