Written answers

Tuesday, 26 November 2019

Department of Justice and Equality

Family Law Cases

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide statistics for the delays in family law proceedings in each of the District and Circuit Courts and in the High Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48791/19]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, including the provision of facilities for court users. The scheduling and hearing of court cases is a matter for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding Judges.

The Presidents of the Courts, in consultation with the Courts Service, keep the distribution of business under regular review and where specific issues are identified appropriate action is taken bearing in mind any constraints imposed by the availability of judicial, administrative or structural resources. A key piece of data in this regard is the waiting times for hearings.

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 provisions of the Mediation Act 2017 by encouraging greater use of alternative dispute resolution to assist in more timely resolution of family law cases.

The waiting time for a Family Law hearing in the High Court is currently 2 months. The waiting times in the Circuit and District Family Courts are set out in the following tables.

District Court Waiting Times November 2019(All waiting times shown in weeks)

Office Family law domestic Violence Applications (1) Family law Maintenance/Guardianship Applications (2)
Athlone Next sitting Next sitting
Ballina Next sitting Next sitting
Bray Next sitting 3-6
Carlow 12 12
Carrick on Shannon Next sitting 4-8 (Next sitting)
Castlebar Next sitting 8 (6)
Cavan Next sitting 16
Clonakilty 2-4 4-6 (2-4)
Clonmel 4-6 4-8
Cork 14 14
Donegal Next sitting Next sitting
Dublin 13 (14) 13 (14)
Dundalk 4-8 (Next sitting) 4-6
Ennis Next sitting 6-8
Galway 4 4-8
Kilkenny 2-4 4-8
Letterkenny Next sitting 13
Limerick 8 12
Longford Next sitting 4
Loughrea Next sitting 8
Mallow Next sitting Next sitting
Monaghan Next sitting Next sitting
Mullingar Next sitting 8
Naas Next sitting 12-24
Nenagh 2-4 8 (16)
Portlaoise Next sitting 12-16
Roscommon Next sitting 12
Sligo Next sitting Next sitting
Tralee 4 4
Trim 3-6 (10-12) 3-6 (12)
Tullamore Next sitting 12
Waterford 6 6
Wexford Next sitting 10-12
Youghal Next sitting Next sitting
* Urgent interim applications are dealt with immediately i.e. on next sitting day in every District (1) Time from receipt of application to listing for hearing in domestic violence matters

(2) As (1) but for other family law applications

Circuit Court

Waiting times in November 2019 (All waiting times shown in months)

Office
Family Law
Family Law
Family Law
Contested Non-contested Appeals
(1) (2) (3)
Carlow Next sitting Next sitting Next sitting
Carrick on Shannon 6 Next sitting Next sitting
Castlebar Next sitting Next sitting Next sitting
Cavan 9 Next sitting Next sitting
Clonmel 3-6 (Next sitting) Next sitting Next sitting
Cork 6-9 Next sitting Next sitting
Dublin 0.5 - 4 (0.5 -3) ** 1 (1-2) 1
Dundalk 6-12 Next sitting 6-12
Ennis 6 Next sitting 6
Galway Next sitting Next sitting Next sitting
Kilkenny 6-9 Next sitting Next sitting
Letterkenny 6-9 Next sitting 6-9
Limerick Next sitting Next sitting 3-6
Longford 6-9 Next sitting Next sitting
Monaghan Next sitting Next sitting Next sitting
Mullingar 3-6 Next sitting 3-6
Naas 6 Next sitting Next sitting
Portlaoise Next sitting Next sitting Next sitting
Roscommon Next sitting Next sitting Next sitting
Sligo 9-12 (6-12) Next sitting Next sitting
Tralee Next sitting Next sitting Next sitting
Trim 6-9 Next sitting 6-9
Tullamore 6 Next sitting Next sitting
Waterford 3-6 Next sitting Next sitting
Wexford 6-10 Next sitting 3-6
Wicklow 6-9 3-6 3-6
** 3 months for a guaranteed priority hearing, 2 weeks as a backup to a priority hearing (if priority case settles or does not proceed)

(2) Time from receipt of notice of trial/notice of motion to listening for hearing in contested matter

(3) As (2) but for uncontested matters.

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