Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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552. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the completion of refurbishment works for courthouses contained within the National Development Plan 2018-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13750/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The National Development Plan 2018-2027 contains a commitment for new or refurbished courthouses in regional cities and county towns where facilities remain substandard (including Galway City, Wicklow Town, Portlaoise, Tralee and Roscommon) and further provincial locations such as Dungloe and Tuam.

As the Deputy is 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 it has commenced the process of identifying/acquiring suitable sites for the projects to be completed over the ten year period on the plan. The Courts Service has also informed me that the precise allocation and timing of additional funding for these projects remains to be fully determined and is dependent on the outcome of further detailed planning and analysis of costs which will determine prioritisation of projects from a timing and budgetary perspective.