Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this question. I am here on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who regrets that she cannot be present due to another commitment. I know she wants to provide some clarity on these issues.

Construction of a purpose-built family law court complex at Hammond Lane is a key project in the national development plan, NDP. The Hammond Lane complex will be built with the specific needs of family law users in mind and will provide a modern facility where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment with a range of support services at hand. It will replace the present inadequate and fragmented facilities for family law in central Dublin at Dolphin House, Chancery Street, Phoenix House and in the Four Courts.

A preliminary business case, developed in compliance with the requirements of the public spending code, was approved in principle in June 2022. The original intention was that Hammond Lane would be delivered as part of a bundle of public private partnership, PPP, projects, including the two Garda stations the Senator mentioned. However, it was decided earlier this year that the two Garda projects would be decoupled from the PPP projects and would proceed by traditional direct Exchequer funding. Accordingly, Hammond Lane is now proceeding as a stand-alone PPP project with appropriate governance arrangements having been revised in that context.

Detailed plans and layouts for the Hammond Lane building have been prepared by the OPW. They provide for a five-storey over-basement building, comprising 19 courtrooms, consultation rooms or spaces, staff and judicial accommodation, a variety of public waiting areas, space for mediation and domestic violence support services, accommodation for legal practitioners and custody facilities. The Courts Service undertook an extensive consultation exercise with stakeholders during the fourth quarter of 2022, during which the plans were very positively received.

The submission of the Part 9 planning application is the immediate priority for the Hammond Lane project, work on which is being undertaken on behalf of the Courts Service by the OPW and which will be completed in advance of the tendering process. It is envisaged that an application for planning permission will be lodged in the coming weeks. In parallel to the Part 9 planning process, a procurement process for legal and technical advisors is under way. The procurement and construction stages of the project will be undertaken and managed by the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, and, in line with Government PPP procedures, it is anticipated that this key project will be delivered in the latter half of the current NDP.

The Minister for Justice is currently leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform. In November of last year she published the first family justice strategy. While foundational in nature, it recognises that much needs to be done to deliver a modern effective system. The strategy sets out a vision for a co-ordinated, consistent and user-focused family justice system, which helps children and families obtain earlier, appropriate resolutions in a simpler, fairer and more effective way. We intend to work towards this through the implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals, with timescales up to the end of 2025 and progress updates published annually.