Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the engagement her Department have had with the Courts Service regarding the potential expansion or additional sittings outside of Dublin of specific children's courts. [45040/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.

The Children Court deals with charges against children under circumstances and restrictions set out in law. The principal legislation in this regard is the Children Act 2001 and when the District Court is sitting in this capacity it is known as the Children Court.

While there is a separate physical Children Court in the Dublin Metropolitan area, sittings of the Children Court outside of that area may be held in courtrooms where ordinary sittings of the District Court are held but on different days and at different times. Restrictions on those who may be present and other relevant provisions particular to the circumstances of children apply at all such hearings.

I am aware that the Deputy’s question relates to a specific recommendation in the report of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This recommendation will be kept under ongoing review in the context of implementation of the youth justice strategy and courts modernisation generally.