Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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583. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of courts and the location of each in which audio-visual technology was installed in 2020 to facilitate remote hearings; the spend involved; the payments to companies that installed the technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5580/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in its functions.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made with the Courts Service. They have informed me that all of the payments for the audio-visual technology to support remote hearings were made to Fitting Image Ltd. who were the successful candidate following a procurement competition. The following table sets out the locations and costs involved.

For the Deputy's information, 2,411 remote hearings were held from the onset of the pandemic to 24 December 2020.  A further programme of investment is planned in 2021.