Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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58. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the projects which will be funded by the capital allocations to the Courts Service in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51611/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively for citizens in their access to justice.

The Deputy may be aware that management of the courts is the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter.

The capital allocation available to the Courts Service in 2023 is set out in the table below:

The ICT expenditure includes the large scale implementation of a number of projects under the Courts modernisation programme which will enable new ways of working, digital solutions and user-centric services to keep pace with demand for services.

Thecapital works includes, among other items, minor courthouse maintenance and refurbishment, preparatory costs associated with the Hammond Lane, Dublin 8 PPP project, site purchases and sustainability projects.

The PPP unitary payments relate to the Criminal Courts of Justice and the regional courthouse bundle of projects delivered by PPP.