Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.

The management and administration of the courts including responsibility for the provision of information is a matter for the Courts Service. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that a total of 74 tipstaff are employed by the Courts Service in the grades of Usher and Crier who act as personal assistants to Judges of the High Court and Circuit Court respectively in the carrying out of their official functions. They are civil servants covered by the Croke Park Agreement and are entitled to claim for travel and subsistence incurred while on official duties and overtime in respect of extra attendance. Among their duties are maintaining proper order in the courtroom, managing the judge’s chambers, the provision of personal security to the judge and driving the judge when needed. All expenses are paid in accordance with Civil Service regulations and subject to verification and audit.

I am informed that the total amount paid in expenses to ushers and criers was €561,043 in 2012 and €635,536 in 2011, totalling €1.2m. Subsistence expenses are incurred in respect of expenses related to necessary absence from the normal place of work on official duty. The necessity for subsistence expenses arise when these staff members must travel with their Judges to Court sittings at various locations around the country. The amount of expenses paid varies widely and is very much related to the jurisdiction within which individual Judges work, the size of the geographical area covered by the judge, number of locations of court sittings and length of hearings. Ushers and Criers are also entitled to Extra Attendance payments in respect of overtime necessarily worked. A flat rate is applied no matter when the extra attendance is provided. I am informed that all payments made are subject to verification and audit. It should be noted that these permanent support staff are only available to judges appointed prior to 1 January, 2012. Under legislation sponsored by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, support to judges appointed after that date is provided by legally qualified Judicial Assistants who are engaged on temporary contracts of no longer than two years duration and are equipped to carry out a range of legal research functions in addition to personal assistant functions.