Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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58. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on local concerns that there has been no provision for public parking at the new Letterkenny courthouse; and if parking will be provided for disabled persons at the new courthouse. [34166/16]

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 the new courthouse, currently under construction in Letterkenny and being delivered by way of Public Private Partnership, will provide significantly improved facilities for all court users when it opens in late 2017. The building will be fully accessible and a drop-off area at the main public entrance is being provided.

The Courts Service has also informed me that, as a matter of course, the Courts Service does not provide parking for members of the public at courthouses and, as is the case at the existing courthouse in Letterkenny, there will be no public parking at the new courthouse. The Courts Service is aware that there are 6 public carparks containing 287 car park spaces, including disabled spaces, in close proximity to the new courthouse and that the appropriate provision of on-street parking for disabled persons in town centre locations is a matter for the local authority.