Provide temporary accomodation for Waterford Courthouse - Kenneally

Deputy Brendan Kenneally has called on the Courts Services to provide additional temporary accommodation for Waterford Courthouse after learning that work on the extension will not begin until 2011 at the earliest. Deputy Kenneally has learnt that while preliminary plans have been completed, work is not expected to begin on site during the current year.

Deputy Kenneally believes given the backlog of cases going before Waterford Courthouse that temporary facilities need to be put in place as a matter of urgency.

“I’ve been informed that following the initial discussions between the local judiciary, staff and court users the preliminary plans have now been prepared for the refurbishment and extension of the Courthouse in Waterford. Further consideration of these plans will be undertaken this month and then it is intended that the planning process and tender documents will be completed during the course of the year. I was also told that work will not begin on the extension until 2011.”

“This means that between the planning process and the time that it will then take to complete construction it will be a while before the urgent extension is completed. That is not good enough. We need more room in Waterford Courthouse now.”

“The only alternative I can see is for temporary accommodation to be erected that would allow the court service to begin dealing with the backlog of cases now. This situation is far too serious to allow any more time to be wasted. Criminals are being left on our streets while they await trial, while other people are running up huge legal bills are they await having their arguments heard before a court.”

“We need to take action now as it is clear that it will take at least a year before construction can commence on the extension of Waterford Courthouse. Providing temporary accommodation isn’t the ideal solution but at least it will allow us to start getting a grip on the backlog problem facing our local legal system,” Deputy Kenneally concluded.