Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the existing Courts Service district office in Drogheda, County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the value of this service to the persons of Drogheda and surrounding areas; the consultations he has had with local groups and organisations such as the Garda, members of the legal profession or local community organisations such as the women's refuge who use the service at the office; if he has considered moving the service to other locations in Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4867/12]

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 which is independent in exercising its functions. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the Courts Service, in common with all other public sector organisations, is obliged to ensure that resources are deployed to best effect to ensure continuity of service with reduced budgets and resources. Greater flexibility in the deployment of available resources is critical in maintaining the delivery of front line court services.

In order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that a comprehensive internal review was conducted in 2009/2010 which included the administrative structure of provincial court offices and recommended the amalgamation of Circuit and District Court offices into combined court offices to provide a multi-jurisdictional administration unit in each county. The recommendations of the review are currently the subject of a transformation programme within the Courts Service incorporating the amalgamation of Circuit Court and District Court offices in each county into a Combined Court Office for the county. The Combined Court Office for County Louth which is currently scheduled for implementation in October will be located in Dundalk.

I am informed that the Courts Service is currently reviewing the future necessity for, and sustainability of, a stand-alone District Court office in Drogheda. I am informed that this review is being undertaken in an open manner and that a consultative meeting was held on 8 December 2011 attended by a wide range of organisations and local groups including An Garda Síochána, Prison Service, Probation Service, Mayor of Drogheda, Drogheda Women's Refuge and a large number of local legal practitioners. I also understand that the Chief Executive of the Courts Service met a delegation including a number of elected representatives from the Drogheda area on 27 January 2012. The Court Service are now proceeding to consider all the points made at the consultative meeting, at the meeting with the Chief Executive and in a comprehensive written submission received from the Drogheda Solicitors Association. The Service inform me that a final decision will be made by the end of February.