Written answers

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Department of Justice and Equality

Wards of Court

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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12. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the implementation of the Committee of Public Accounts recommendations relating to wards of courts' funds that were lost in the crash. [29377/16]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, jurisdiction in Wards of Court matters is vested in the High Court. Section 4(3) of the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, including the management of the Courts. Court funds which are held for the benefit of Wards of Court are private funds under the control of the Courts Service which, through its offices in the High, Circuit and District Courts, has responsibility for the management and investment of funds in court.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that arrangements have been made to carry out an independent review as requested in the Public Accounts Committee in its Report on Wards of Court Funds in July 2015 and the Courts Service has advised that this review will be completed shortly.

The Courts Service has also advised that individual statements on the performance of court funds will be issued but that it is important to ensure that the data held on each case, such as names and addresses of persons to whom sensitive information is issued, is accurate and up to date. Work has commenced to update and verify the information held on the Courts Service tracking systems and this will be completed by the end of 2016, at which time individual statements will issue.

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