Dublin’s District Courts face ‘root and branch’ change

Courts in Dún Laoghaire, Tallaght, Swords and Balbriggan would close under official proposals for an overhaul of Dublin’s District Courts.

In what it described as a "root and branch re-organsation" of District Court sittings in Dublin city and county, the Courts Service has published proposals to centralise criminal business in the Criminal Courts of Justice complex, near Phoenix Park, and to send all traffic cases to Blanchardstown.

Juvenile cases currently heard in Blanchardstown, Dún Laoghaire and Tallaght would be transferred to the Children’s Court in Smithfield, and all other business dealt with at present in Swords, Balbriggan, Dún Laoghaire and Tallaght would be distributed among existing civil and family law courts in the city centre.

The Courts Service said the changes would make the best use of court resources by concentrating business in a smaller number of locations in the city and county. The organisation argued that the reforms would make the system more efficient, increase its capacity to deal with demand for courtroom accommodation and make the best use of the facilities available in the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street.

The plans would involve the closure of offices in Swords and Dún Laoghaire and court venues in Swords, Dún Laoghaire, Balbriggan and Tallaght.

“The changes we are proposing are a once in a generation opportunity to improve the organisation and delivery of District Court business in Dublin,” the Courts Service said in a statement.

“Our staff are currently stretched to the limit to meet and maintain existing service levels, and at the same time meet increasing demand.”

It acknowledged that the closures of court offices and venues would cause inconvenience for some people but said the proposals would result in improved services for court users “in offices and courtrooms which are fit for purpose, have facilities and support services which cannot be provided at suburban venues and enable people to conduct their business with dignity and privacy.”

A period of consultation will now begin. The Courts Service has invited submissions in advance of the suggestions going to its building committee at the end of June, with final proposals going before the organisation’s board next month.

Subject to board agreement, the service expects the new arrangements to take effect in January 2015.