Waterford to get dedicated family court to cut backlog

WATERFORD is to get a new standalone family court in an effort to deal with a growing backlog of cases and free up the main courthouse for criminal and civil cases.

Amid growing criticism of the delays faced by people trying to access the court facilities in the city, the Courts Service confirmed yesterday that it is in the process of locating extra accommodation to establish a new Family Law Court in Waterford. “This will help expedite family law cases in a more timely manner and in a more private and suitable environment,” said courts spokesman Gerry Curran.

Meanwhile, the refurbishment of the main courthouse on Catherine St is to go ahead as an independent project following the shelving of the decentralisation project for Waterford. The Courts Service will be taking possession of the site of the current fire station, almost adjacent to the courthouse, from the Office of Public Works when the fire service vacates the premises in April of next year.

“From this point we will then incorporate this site into our plans for the construction of an extension to an refurbishment of the courthouse,” said Mr Curran.

The news follows criticism of the court delays by Labour TD Brian O’Shea, who said the pressure on the system was “appalling”. He said the average wait time for circuit court criminal cases in Waterford is 18 to 36 months, compared with three to six months in Limerick and Galway.

“The problem remains that there is inadequate courtroom space available in the city and there is a major shortage of support staff,” said Mr O’Shea.

“The decentralisation programme for the Waterford constituency has now been put back until 2011 at the earliest. Some 225 jobs from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government were to come to Waterford and part of that ‘Government Quarter’ project was the provision of an additional court chamber, which is very badly needed.”

Meanwhile, a fourth judge is to be assigned to the south-east circuit court from next January in an attempt to reduce the number of cases awaiting hearing. Two extra judges have been in place in the circuit for the past two years along with the permanent judge.

According to Mr Curran, some labour-intensive activities, such as the electronic processing of family law payments, have become automated while, in the near future, all summonses received from An Garda Síochána and all results of cases sent back to them will be dealt with electronically “thus freeing up much staff time”.