Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 411: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases heard in the Circuit Court in each of the past five years; the number of cases heard in the High Court in each of the past five years; if there is a waiting list in either court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21312/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will appreciate that an enormous number of cases and types of applications come before the Circuit and High Court jurisdictions each year. Waiting times can vary depending on the type of case before the court and/or the Circuit involved.

Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, the management and administration of the courts is a matter for the Courts Service. The allocation of the business of the courts, scheduling of court cases and the management of court lists are matters for the judiciary and the Presidents of the courts. I am informed that the judiciary monitor waiting times and backlogs of court cases on an ongoing basis to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum. Measures introduced by the President of the High Court have resulted in marked improvements with many cases now receiving trial dates within a single legal term. Additional judges are frequently assigned, where necessary, by the President of the Circuit Court and the President of the District Court to assist with the disposal of cases where backlogs have arisen. The Courts Service works with the judiciary to ensure that all cases are dealt with and disposed of as speedily as possible.

Notwithstanding this I intend to take action, within my area of responsibility as Minister, to seek to address particular problems as they arise. For example, following a judgment last year of the European Court of Human Rights I recently established an Expert Group under the chair of Mr Paul McDermott SC to consider, inter alia, how delays might be alleviated.

Detailed statistical information is published each year in the Annual Reports of the Courts Service regarding major areas of work of the courts and statistics are presented by reference to specific categories of law: criminal, civil (including family law) and licensing. Information relating to average waiting times in respect of each court jurisdiction and case type is also provided. The Annual Report for each year is available on the Courts Service website www.courts.ie.