Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current average length of time taken to process a case; the number of cases outstanding at present; the longest outstanding case awaiting resolution at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28637/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, 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. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that with regard to incoming maintenance orders for enforcement, court statistics are not compiled in such a way across jurisdictions as to provide the information requested by the Deputy. To obtain the information sought would involve a manual exercise requiring the examination of individual court files which would involve the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time.

However, it is understood that the Courts Service are aware of delays in dealing with these cases generally and are taking steps to address this situation by putting in place a system to manage these applications in a more proactive way including a centralised administrative system to monitor case progression. When such a system is in place, the Courts Service anticipate being able to provide information on the number of cases and the length of time for dealing with them.

In relation to outgoing maintenance orders for enforcement, this is a matter for the enforcement authority in the requested jurisdiction.