The law courts are to be brought into the 21st century with the installation of new technology at an estimated cost of £11 million over the next few years.
Information technology systems will be phased in at the Four Courts in Dublin and in the main courthouses around the State. The plan is part of proposals to eventually upgrade the technology in all courts. The systems will include criminal and civil case tracking, family law, financial managements and accounts systems, production of statistics and management information systems.
Tenders have been received by the Department of Justice on foot of EU advertisements for the information technology systems. A Department spokesman said it had been indicated that it would cost in the region of £11 million. However, a sum had not yet been allocated.
Work is expected to start on initial phases of the project before the end of this year. Other refurbishment projects on courthouses throughout the country have been continuing. While an amount of progress has been made in recent years to upgrade the courts building stock there is still a substantial amount to be done.
The Department of Justice says its aim is to provide modern facilities in all courthouses which are located at more than 260 venues. In 1990 the Government decided to transfer financial responsibility for the refurbishment of courthouses from local authorities to the Department of Justice. Since then, a number of major refurbishment projects have been carried out or new courthouses have been provided.
Already the Four Courts in Dublin have undergone extensive work which was carried out during the summer vacations. Renovations included the complete refurbishment of the Supreme Court and the addition of a second Supreme Court. The remaining offices and courts around the rotunda of the Four Courts had new carpeting, seating, upgraded facilities and new public address systems. Also upgraded were corridors, chambers and the security system.
Other courthouses which have been refurbished are Ballinasloe, Galway, Cavan, Letterkenny, Ath lone, Loughrea, Clonmel, Ennis (phase 1), Ballina, Naas, Midle ton, Castlecomer, Portarlington, Carlow (phase 1), Abbeyfeale and Cork District court. New courthouses have been provided at the former Richmond Hospital and the Riverbank Theatre in Dublin and in Tallaght and Carrick-on-Shannon.
Refurbishment work is still continuing at Portlaoise, Edenderry, Rathdowney and Cork Circuit Court (phase 1). This year, new projects have started at Temple more, Buncrana, Listowel, Trim, Carlow (phase 2). Additional projects may be announced later.
The renovation of the entire legal system is still in progress. The new Courts Services Act allows for an independent management agency for courts known as the Board of the Courts Service to take over from the Department of Justice.
The board will manage the courts, buildings, infrastructure and provide information and facilities to the public. Responsibility for the day-to-day management of staff and the administration and business of the service will fall to the chief executive of the board.