Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the purchase price of the proposed court house site in Dungloe County Donegal; if an allocation been made to build the proposed courthouse; his views that this scheme will prove value for money, taking into account that the court sits once a month in Dungloe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2658/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. The Act provides that the Service is independent in the performance of its functions including the maintenance and provision of courthouse facilities.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the proposed Courthouse site in An Clochan Liath (Dungloe), Co. Donegal was purchased in 2008 at a cost of €450,000, which represented the market value of the site at that time. Due to current economic conditions, there is no provision in the Courts Service budget in the current year to proceed to the construction phase of this significant capital investment project but the Service has indicated that it will seek planning permission, during 2012, for a new Courthouse at this site in the context of progressing certain existing projects to planning stage. The Courts Service has informed me that in the current economic context it is undertaking a review of venues around the country and the outcome of this review which includes costs and benefits may also have implications for any development in An Clochan Liath (Dungloe).