Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has proposals to increase the jurisdiction of the District Court and Circuit Court in civil proceedings; and if so, the new limits proposed. [7804/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Sections 13 and 14 of the Courts and Court Officers Act 2002 provided for increases in the monetary and jurisdiction limits of the Circuit Court and District Court. The proposed limits are €100,000 for the Circuit Court and €20,000 for the District Court.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, was established in 2004. I will consider the commencement of sections 13 and 14 of the Act when sufficient time has elapsed to consider the impact the board has had on the compensation regime. A legal costs working group has been established to identify ways of reducing legal costs and I would also like to await its report before considering the matter further.