Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners in custody on remand while awaiting trial in the Special Criminal Court, for one year plus to two years; for two years plus to three years, and for three years plus; the steps she is taking to ensure that hearings in this court are heard in a timely manner; if lack of capacity in the court system to deal with cases is the reason for the delay in hearing cases in this court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40947/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that nine prisoners are currently held in Portlaoise Prison on warrants awaiting trial in the Special Criminal Court. The length of time they are detained awaiting trial is outlined in the table below.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government recently appointed seven serving judges to the bench of the second Special Criminal Court that was established by Government Order on 14 December 2004. There is a backlog of cases in the existing Special Criminal Court with delays of approximately twenty months in cases coming to trial. In order to address this I sought the necessary Government approval on 28 October 2015, to appoint judges to the second Special Criminal Court.

There are certain practical and procedural tasks that need to be undertaken before the second Courts can start hearing cases, such as organising courtroom accommodation, chambers for judges, the drafting of the necessary rules of court and it will also be necessary to appoint a Court Registrar.

I anticipate that when the second Special Criminal Court commences hearing cases there will be a reduction in waiting times for cases awaiting trial.