Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures his Department is taking to improve the efficiency of court proceedings, which currently take 1.5 times longer than the European average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54135/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister, I am committed to resourcing the courts and judiciary sufficiently to ensure efficient and timely access to justice. However, 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 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution.

To be of assistance to the Deputy I have enquired of the Courts Service on measures that they are taking to improve the efficiency of court operations.

The Courts Service is currently progressing an ambitious 10-year Modernisation Programme to deliver digitally enabled services designed around the user. This programme commenced in 2020 with the approval of a multiyear business plan and is currently in the third of its four implementation phases, with the fourth phase scheduled to commence in 2026.

Efficiency related projects under this programme include the phased roll-out of a Unified Case Management System (UCMS), which will enable digital end to end journeys supporting court users and the courts dealing with matters digitally where appropriate, various data sharing projects within the Criminal Justice Sector to improve efficiencies between state bodies, a new online jury system to remove significant paper handling activities in processing the jury summons process, and the introduction of WiFi in courthouses to streamline court user digital content access for court. A new online portal as part of the UCMS supporting digital applications, responses, case tracking and order collection is currently being piloted for circuit family cases in Dublin and will expand to probate in the near future followed by other case types.

The Courts Service has continued the expansion of technologically enabled courtrooms, providing remote courts and digital evidence display functionality, which is now available in 167 courtrooms, increased from 46 at the start of 2020.