Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will introduce the family court Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18417/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to significant reform of the courts, including the establishment of a family law court structure that is streamlined, more efficient, and less costly.

My Department is working on the General Scheme of a Family Court Bill which will aim to streamline family law court processes, clarify jurisdictional issues and provide for a set of guiding principles to help ensure that the Family Court will operate in a user-friendly and efficient manner. The intention is to establish a dedicated Family Court within the existing court structures. The Family Court Bill will support the proposals in the Mediation Bill 2017 by encouraging greater use of alternative dispute resolution to assist in more timely resolution of family law cases.

My Department is currently engaged in further consultation with relevant stakeholders in relation to the operational aspects of a new family court structure. I hope to secure Government approval for the General Scheme of a Family Court Bill in the coming months. Once the General Scheme has been approved by Government, it will be referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting and will be subject to the usual pre-legislative scrutiny by the relevant Oireachtas Committee. While I am not in a position at this time to indicate when the Bill will be published, it is my intention that the General Scheme will be published later this year following its approval by Government.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the projected cost of the implementation of the family court Bill. [18418/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to significant reform of the courts, including the establishment of a family law court structure that is streamlined, more efficient, and less costly.

My Department is working on the General Scheme of a Family Court Bill which will aim to streamline family law court processes, clarify jurisdictional issues and provide for a set of guiding principles to help ensure that the Family Court will operate in a user-friendly and efficient manner. The intention is to establish a dedicated Family Court within the existing court structures. The Family Court Bill will support the proposals in the Mediation Bill 2017 by encouraging greater use of alternative dispute resolution to assist in more timely resolution of family law cases.

My Department is currently engaged in further consultation with relevant stakeholders in relation to the operational aspects of a new family court structure. These consultations will allow for an examination of projected requirements for resources to support the new structure. I hope to secure Government approval in the coming months for the General Scheme of a Family Court Bill which will incorporate a cost-benefit assessment of the proposed new family court structure. Once the General Scheme has been approved by Government, it will be referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting and will be subject to the usual pre-legislative scrutiny by the relevant Oireachtas Committee. While I am not in a position at this time to indicate when the Bill will be published, it is my intention that the General Scheme will be published later this year following its approval by Government.