John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the necessary funding to the Courts Service in Tralee, County Kerry, to carry out the necessary refurbishment and upgrade works on the existing site at Tralee Courthouse (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24816/16]

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 to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that it is aware of the need to improve court accommodation in Tralee and has been exploring options for providing modern courthouse facilities in the town. The scope for refurbishing and developing the existing courthouse on Ashe Street to provide the range of services expected in a modern courthouse is extremely limited due to the nature of the building and space constraints. For this reason the Courts Service is considering the building of a new courthouse subject to securing a suitable site and the availability of funding in due course.