Unseen barriers to access to justice had been alleviated with the increased use of plain English, Courts Service chief executive Angela Denning said yesterday at the opening of a new legal year (2 October).

Giving information to the public in accessible and understandable forms was vital, Denning said, with increased use of plain language and infographics to address language barriers.

Almost half of replies to jury summonses are now received online.

Simplified information about family-law proceedings has been accessed by 49,000 users since it went live in June this year.

The modernisation of court forms was ongoing, Denning added, and the 20 forms currently in use in relation to guardianship of children would shortly reduce to one, in plain English.

Other innovations include the launch of a new online system for finding cases in the higher courts, replacing old search tools, Ms Denning said.

Summonses

A single claim form will also replace the myriad of summonses used to recover debt.

The Hammond Lane Family Law complex will go to planning by year-end, and thereafter to tender, Denning said.

The historic Four Courts building will also need extensive works with efforts made to minimise disruption, over the next year

The chief executive also expects to sign the contract to complete the purchase from Kerry County Council of a new courthouse site at the Island of Geese in Tralee, Co Kerry.