Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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279. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify the ownership of a building (details supplied). [32165/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, 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 Birr Courthouse is owned by the Courts Service and has been closed since 1 January 2014.

The Courts Service has also informed me that it has no plans to reuse the venue in the future and that, in accordance with its policy when a building owned by the Court Service is no longer required for court use, the Courts Service is generally willing to transfer it to another public body for an alternative public use. While there have been some exploratory discussions with some public bodies in the past about a possible transfer, these were not pursued and Birr Courthouse remains in Courts Service ownership.