John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1355. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the stage of plans to refurbish a vacant courthouse (details supplied); when demolition works are likely to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39845/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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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 its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding Wicklow Courthouses and the Courts Service has provided me with the following update on this matter.

The National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027 includes a number of courthouse development projects, including for Wicklow Town.

The Courts Service advises that its highest priority at present is the Hammond Lane Family Law complex, the business case for which, as required by the public spending code, has recently been completed and submitted to my Department.  The five regional city and county town venues listed in the NDP including Wicklow are currently the next highest priorities for the Courts Service after Hammond Lane.

Specifically in relation to Wicklow, the Courts Service advises that a courthouse comprising four courtrooms and related facilities (e.g. consultation rooms, custody facilities, facilities for juries and vulnerable witnesses, legal practitioner’s suites, etc.) is envisaged as being required to meet current and future demand in Wicklow. This will require a building significantly larger than the existing two courtroom building. The Courts Service proposes to refurbish and extend the courthouse to provide the required accommodation and has acquired a number of adjoining properties that were in council ownership so as to have available a larger site capable of accommodating a courthouse building on the scale envisaged.

To support an unprecedented programme of courts reform, the Government continues to commit substantial resources. €158.8 million has been allocated to the Courts Service for 2021 including €8 million in support of the initial phase of the Courts Modernisation Programme. There has also been an additional provision of €5.7m for COVID measures to enable court sittings take place in a safe environment.