Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 13: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the continuing delays in court hearings for criminal trials is unacceptable; the further proposals he has for dealing with the situation; when it is expected that an adequate number of judges will be [i]in situ[/i]; the resources that have been provided in respect of each judge; when the lengthy waiting times for court hearings, particularly in respect of criminal cases, will abate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12967/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am firmly committed to ensuring that judicial resources are adequate to the demands placed on them. Since 2002, the number of judges sitting in the High, Circuit and District Courts has increased from 108 to 125, an increase of 17 judicial posts. In addition, the Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Act 2007 provides for a further 14 judges — 6 Judges of the District Court, 4 ordinary Judges of the Circuit Court and 4 ordinary Judges of the High Court. The additional judges are being appointed to deal with delays and generally speed up the judicial process.

In accordance with section 16(2) of the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995, I have requested the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board to furnish me with nominations for these new posts. When these new judges are appointed shortly, it will mean that the number of additional judges sitting in Court since 2002 is 31. I should add that additional staff for the Courts Service have been sanctioned to ensure optimum use of the new judges.

In 2002, in the Central Criminal Court — where the most serious cases are heard — the waiting time between return for trial and trial was 18 months. By comparison, as of 31 December 2006, the waiting time for the hearing of cases was six months. These improvements can be attributed to the decision of the President of the High Court to assign four judges to the Central Criminal Court on an ongoing basis and to the very active management of the court list.

The strict application by the Court of its own 'ground rules' with regard to adjournments and the continuing good case management and careful scheduling of cases have all contributed to the significant reduction in waiting times and the optimum efficient use of the judicial and other resources allocated to the Court. All cases currently before the Central Criminal Court have dates fixed earlier than the end of June 2007. I am informed that 2006 is the sixth year in a row when the number of completed cases exceeded the number of new cases returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court.

The situation in the Circuit and District Courts varies according to location. While some venues are in a position to schedule cases for the next sittings, others are experiencing delays due to a variety of factors. The Presidents of each of these courts have, at their disposal, unassigned judges who can be used, inter alia, to assist permanently assigned judges where pressure of work demands. I believe that the additional judges to be provided to the Circuit and District Courts will greatly assist in reducing delays in those courts and I will continue to keep the situation under review.