The Courts Service has said work on a long-term strategy for its court buildings, as part of its modernisation programme, is to be completed this year.
“This work will include a comprehensive review of all court venues nationally,” the courts body said in its annual report, which was published last week.
The report said that, while investment in recent years had enhanced facilities around the country, further investment was needed to improve and replace courthouse infrastructure.
Maintenance survey
The organisation has been working on a preventative maintenance programme for court buildings, and in 2019 it organised a nationwide survey of 60 court buildings, in order to establish their condition.
The annual report said that this process was suspended for a time last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, and that surveys associated with four court buildings remained to be completed this year.
The Courts Service has made a submission to a Government Review of the National Development Plan.
During 2020, the organisation completed the purchase of a site that will be used for a new courthouse in Portlaoise. It is also looking at “a number of options” for improving courthouse accommodation in Tralee.
Sites in Wicklow and Roscommon
The annual report said that the courts body was continuing to look for suitable sites in Galway, Naas and Navan, as a first step in progressing regional city and county town projects in the National Development Plan.
It has already acquired sites in Wicklow and Roscommon for this purpose. A move to temporary premises in Roscommon is planned to enable work to start on Roscommon Courthouse, when funding becomes available.
The report also gave an update on projects in Dublin, where measures aimed at complying with public-health guidelines meant that some work had to be delayed.
The Courts Service said that initial work on the planned new family-law complex, at Hammond Lane in Smithfield, began during the year.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) also began assessing work needed at the former Traffic Court building in Smithfield Square, which has been derelict for many years. “Extensive repairs to the roof and fabric of the building are envisaged for 2021,” the Courts Service said.