Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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121. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she has taken to ensure that the courthouses in Swords and Balbriggan, County Dublin continue to operate, as closure would undermine legal practices in the area and considerably disrupt matters for citizens and staff having to journey to the city centre for matters which could more conveniently be dealt with locally; the contact she has had with the Court Service on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36263/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of accommodation for court sittings.

However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and have been informed that the Courts Service undertook a review of the administration and delivery of court services in the Dublin Region. The purpose of the review was to identify, in consultation with all stakeholders, a range of options which could be considered to enable the Courts Service to maintain frontline courts services and support court sittings in the context of reduced budgetary and staffing availability. Arising from the review, proposals were formulated including proposals to close the court office in Swords and the court venues at Swords and Balbriggan. A comprehensive public consultation process was undertaken by the Courts Service and submissions were received from a range of stakeholders including the judiciary, other agencies across the justice sector, the legal profession, local authorities and public representatives, staff associations and members of the public generally.

The Courts Service has advised that the proposals, including all submissions received during the consultation phase, were considered by the Courts Service Building Committee, a sub-committee of the Courts Service Board, at its meeting on 22 September 2014. These included views of the Working Group on Efficiencies in the Criminal Justice System which is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives of the main justice sector agencies including An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the judiciary and the Courts Service among others, which, at my request, considered the proposals on court closures from a Justice system perspective.

The Building Committee, in considering the submissions received, noted the views expressed regarding possible inconvenience that could entail for court users, the potential impact on local policing and also the projected increased costs across the justice sector. Following the extensive consultation process, the Courts Service has recently announced that the proposals will not proceed at this time.