Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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592. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason there is a significant delay in processing cases relating to personal injury claims in the Cork Circuit Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30527/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Courts Service is responsible for the management and administration of the Courts. The scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the Presidents of the courts and the presiding judge who are under the Constitution independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. The Presidents monitor waiting times across all courts lists and seek to ensure the optimum use of court time.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that there are no significant waiting times and no processing delays in the Cork Circuit Court. The current waiting times for all civil business cases, including personal injury cases, in the Cork Circuit Court is currently 3 - 6 months and this is measured from the time of receipt by the court office of the notice of trial to the date the case is listed for hearing.

I am informed that most cases are dealt with on the first date they are listed for hearing. Where cases are not dealt with within 3 - 6 months, in many instances this is due to either one party or both parties seeking adjournments. The President of the Circuit Court keeps the position in relation to waiting times nationwide under continuous review and where considered necessary will assign additional judicial resources to address any delay issues that may arise.