Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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289. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if a court messenger and sheriff have been engaged for Waterford Court; the reason for the delay; when the roles will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3146/16]

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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290. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality why County Waterford is still without a county sheriff and court messenger; when these positions will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3147/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, County Registrars outside Dublin and Cork carry out the duties of Under-Sheriff for their respective counties. There has been no vacancy for the position of County Registrar in County Waterford and consequently the position of Under-Sheriff for County Waterford has not been vacant.

Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions and Court Messengers are members of staff of the Courts Service. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have made enquiries and the Courts Service has informed me that they have recently completed a recruitment competition for a Court Messenger for County Waterford and the successful candidate is due to take up duty on 1 February 2016.