Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he proposes to make changes, statutory or otherwise, with a view to expediting the process of family law cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16580/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Waiting times for the disposal of family law business in the Circuit and District Courts are generally satisfactory but there are delays in some circuits and districts. The waiting time for hearing family law cases in the High Court will be improved as the President of the High Court has indicated his intention to assign an additional judge to family law business in the autumn.

The question of delays, where they occur in the various courts, is a matter of ongoing review by the Courts Service from the point of view of the optimum allocation of resources. I am considering the question of extra judges in the context of amendment of the Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004.