Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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427. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the full capital cost of establishing the Civil Court of Appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23010/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, 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 provision of courthouse facilities.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service informed me that works to accommodate the Court of Appeal involved the refurbishment of the Public Records Office building in the Four Courts complex to accommodate two courtrooms and chambers for the ten judges of the Court of Appeal. It also involved the refurbishment of accommodation in Áras Uí Dhálaigh to house the Office of the Court of Appeal and staff of the court, as well as accommodation for courts, judges and staff who had to be relocated there from the Public Records Office building. The cost of these building works to date has been €2.497 million. A small amount of works remain to be completed which are expected to be undertaken during the summer of 2015. I am informed that in relation to ICT services for the Court of Appeal, expenditure of €467,000 was incurred to date in providing ICT equipment for the courtrooms, judges and staff of the Court. This included the installation of digital audio recording in courtrooms and the provision of a new case management system.