Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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201. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of senior clerks in the probate offices of the Courts Service; and the waiting time for processing of cases. [20513/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Probate Office is an office of the High Court and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the full complement of staff in the Probate Office is as follows:

2 Principal Officers

1 Assistant Principal

7 Higher Executive Officers

3 Executive Officers and

5 Clerical Officers

Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at 14 District Probate Registries in provincial court offices.

The Courts Service has advised that the current waiting time for a Grant of Representation is 15 weeks for applications lodged by a solicitor (90% of applications are made via this route) and 28 weeks for personal applications. It is anticipated that by the end of Summer these waiting periods will reduce further. The current reduction in waiting times has been achieved by a review of business processes within the Probate Office and the assignment of an extra Higher Executive Officer and Executive Officer.

All applications are assessed on the basis of the date on which they are lodged, an approach which provides fairness and equity to all applicants. Priority is given to probate applications where there is a particular urgency or in extenuating circumstances. In such cases, it is open to applicants to bring the matter to the attention of the Probate Office.