Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his policy in relation to the consolidation of the District Court services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23442/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I should say at the outset that the Courts Service is responsible for the management and administration of the courts including the designation of court venues for the transaction of the business of the District Court. I am aware that the Service has undertaken a nationwide review of the numbers and location of venues where District Court business is transacted. In undertaking the review, the Service applied a number of qualitative criteria to each venue including case count, condition of the building, proximity to a suitable venue, number of sittings per annum, etc. The review is designed to ensure that the best possible service is provided to court users and optimum operating efficiency is achieved through the best possible use being made of court resources, facilities and judicial time. This is particularly important in the context of pressures on public expenditure and reduced funding resources.