The service of all EU legal documents to be centralised in Castlebar from today.

A receiving agency and transmitting agency has been set up in Castlebar, Co Mayo, to enable the processing, transmission and service of EU legal documents for the entire country.

Castlebar Courthouse is the home for the new service. The unit will process the service of court documents concerning all cases in the EU Member States. 

This will facilitate the service of documents where one of the parties is based in another EU country, and will cover judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters.

Courts rules have now been amended to enable the change.

A Courts Service spokesman said that the creation of the dedicated unit would benefit users by allowing for the development of expert knowledge.

It would also enhance the quality and consistency of document processing, and provide a single point of contact for all queries. Urgent childcare applications can also be prioritised.

The spokesman added: "This project arises from implementing the results of a major court office review. It is the first of a number of planned initiatives to cross the line.
“There will be further centralisation of functions in this Castlebar office, such as the administration of jury service nationally, in the coming months.”

"We are centralising in Castlebar, and not in the capital, in line with the wishes expressed by the staff in a consultation process, in pursuing Government policies regarding regional balance, and in light of our analysis of the availability of space with a scope for extension.” 

All new requests for service of EU documents under EU regulation 1393/2007 from today should be sent to the new Service of EU Documents Unit, Courts Service Centralised Office, Combined Court Office, The Courthouse, Castlebar, Co Mayo.