Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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563. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a review of an examination of the operation of county and city sheriffs’ offices including the need to put in place an independent mechanism to appeal decisions made by city and county sheriffs has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4343/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners have established a Joint Review Group to examine the role of Sheriffs, as currently constituted, in respect of State work.

The Review Group is independently chaired by a former Secretary General of this Department, and comprises of representatives from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Courts Service, the Departments of Justice, Housing and Finance, as well as an external representative from the Insolvency Service of Ireland.

The Review Group is to examine the future role of Sheriffs, with a view to establishing if the nature of the role is currently in line with best international practice, or if there is a more efficient and cost effective system of debt collection.  The review will dissect the nature and volume of work available to Sheriffs both now, and into the future.

It is expected to take between 6-9 months, the target date for the report is Q3 of 2023.