Revamp to boost court capacity

WATERFORD’S courts facilities are to receive a major revamp with plans to double the capacity of the existing courthouse complex in the city.

The investment announcement is timely, given that the Central Criminal Court sat in the city for the first time in the history of the State yesterday.

Mayor of Waterford Cllr Hilary Quinlan has welcomed the announcement that the Courts Service has received Government approval for a major extension at the courthouse complex on Catherine Street.

“It has been clear for some time that the courthouse in Waterford - though a fine building architecturally - can no longer provide adequate accommodation for people involved in hearings before the courts that sit there and for the judges, courts service personnel, gardaí, probation and welfare officers and legal professionals who work there,” he said.

Mayor Quinlan said that with detailed planning underway, he looks forward to work beginning shortly on what he says will be a “major development” at Catherine Street.

The mayor also expressed hope that progress on the project will run in parallel to movement on the provision of accommodation for the 200 civil servants from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government who will relocate to Waterford under the decentralisation programme announced by the Government in December 2003.