Written answers

Tuesday, 20 November 2007

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Judicial Appointments

8:00 pm

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he plans to appoint a new judge for the District Court in Donegal, in view of the fact that there is a two year waiting list for hearings; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to forty Gardaí are tied up in the District Court at any given time due to the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29380/07]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The question of extra judicial resources in the Donegal District is a matter, in the first instance, for consideration by the President of the District Court. I will be guided by the President of the Court as to the need for additional permanently assigned judges.

The President has at her disposal unassigned judges who can be used to assist the permanently assigned judges where pressure of work demands. As the Deputy may be aware, fourteen additional judges were appointed within the past few months, of whom six are in the District Court. These additional judicial resources will have a significant and positive impact on waiting times in Donegal and elsewhere.

I am informed that waiting times in Donegal generally are less than six months for cases other than family law cases (as regards the latter cases, delays are about six months). As the Deputy will appreciate, individual cases will sometimes have longer waiting periods for reasons not within the control of the Courts Service, such as adjournment applications from parties to the case.

My Department is cognisant of the demands on Garda time and every effort is made to streamline their court commitments on both a legislative and administrative basis. I understand that additional court sittings have been scheduled in District No. 1 (which covers Donegal) in the period September to Christmas in an effort to deal with the backlog. To this end, thirty special sittings have already been arranged so far this year.

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