James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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600. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current status and estimated completion time for the new family law court at Hammond Lane, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50057/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to overhaul the operation of the family justice system, to ensure we have a more efficient and user-friendly family court system that puts the family at the centre of its work. This is a key commitment in my Justice Plan 2022.

The construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond Lane is a core to achieving this transformation.

It is a key project in the National Development Plan and will be delivered as part of a PPP bundle together with the development of two Garda Stations at Macroom and Clonmel. This project is included in the new National Development Plan 2021-2030 recently published by Government which specifically mentions a Family Law Complex on Hammond Lane to be developed by PPP.

The Hammond Lane complex will be built with the specific needs of Family law users in mind and will provide a modern facility where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment with a range of support services at hand. It will replace the present inadequate and fragmented facilities for family law in central Dublin at Dolphin House, Chancery Street, Phoenix House and in the Four Courts.

Following approval by the Courts Board, the Courts Service submitted a final preliminary business case. My Department, as the Approving Authority under the Public Spending Code, provided approval in principle to the Courts Service (and AGS) in June 2022 to proceed with the project under the PPP mechanism. Formal project structures are well advanced with relevant stakeholders, including OPW and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), in order to progress the project as quickly as possible.

Design and pre-planning consultations are at an advanced stage. The design may be further revised in light of recent consultations, legislative developments and outputs from Family Law modernisation initiatives.