Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the District and Circuit Courts are short of appointed Judges; if he will provide specific details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35476/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Under statute the authorised number of judges on the Circuit Court is a President and 37 judges while the District Court is comprised of a President and 63 judges. Judicial retirements and promotions to other courts in the latter half of 2011 and earlier this year gave rise to up to 15 vacancies on the Circuit Court and the District Court. These vacancies, combined with absences due to illness and Tribunal work, added significantly to the workload of those courts. However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Government moved as quickly as possible to fill the vacancies and both courts now have a full complement of judges.