Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of redevelopment plans by the Courts Service for the remaining five provincial city and county town venues in need of significant improvement following completion of the Hammond Lane project and the seven provincial venues already approved by way of public private partnership projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9202/16]

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

However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and I am informed that after the completion of the seven courthouses projects currently under construction by way of Public Private Partnership, the five provincial city and county town courthouses remaining in need of significant improvement are Galway, Tralee, Portlaoise, Roscommon and Wicklow. I am informed that in the case of Wicklow a site has been acquired by the Courts Service adjacent to the existing Courthouse which will allow for the refurbishment and extension of the existing building. In the other four locations, the Courts Service is in discussions to acquire additional space or new sites to allow developments to be planned.

The resources of Courts Service are currently focussed on the management of the present bundle of projects under construction, which will see the new courthouses built in Drogheda, Letterkenny, Limerick and Wexford and substantial refurbishment and extension works to existing courthouses in Cork, Mullingar and Waterford, and planning for the Hammond Lane project in Dublin which will provide additional facilities for Family Law Courts, the Children Court and the Supreme Court. I am informed that work on the five remaining projects, including Wicklow, will commence as resources become available and will be dependent on the manner in which these projects are to be delivered, whether as part of a Public Private Partnership bundle or as traditional capital projects.