First family courts to start next January
The first dedicated family courts will begin operating at the start of next year under a timescale announced by the Minister for Justice today (22 April).
The details are contained in an implementation plan for the Family Courts Act 2024, which introduces changes to the operation of the family-justice system in Ireland.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that the legislation would result in “the most significant reforms of the family-justice system in the history of the State”.
The changes will include full-time specialist judges assigned to deal with family law within new family-court divisions, and the introduction of divorce applications at both District and Circuit Court level – a measure that has been opposed by some in the legal profession.
Phased process
The minister said that the implementation plan would bring the family courts into operation in selected locations over a series of stages before a full national roll-out.
“Following the outcome of extensive stakeholder consultation last year, the best approach, both in terms of minimising disruption to the operation of the courts, as well as ensuring lasting change, is a phased implementation that will start at the beginning of the legal term in January 2027,” he stated.
Under the first phase in January 2027, three locations will be chosen to start operating as family courts under the new system.
These locations will require a Family District Court, a Family Circuit Court, and a Family High Court.
Judges to be assigned
As part of this phase, judges with specific expertise in dealing with families and family-law matters will be assigned to these three locations on a full-time basis.
Additional family-court divisions will be added in January 2028 as part of the second phase.
The final phase will see the full implementation of the act and is expected to start from January 2029, with more family-court divisions and specialist judges assigned.
The Department of Justice has set up a steering group to oversee and monitor the implementation process and to lead co-ordination and collaboration between those involved.
It will produce a more detailed project plan for publication in the autumn.