Two Offaly court closures confirmed
The closure of courthouses in Birr and Edenderry has been confirmed by the Board of the Courts Service.
The closure of court venues in Clones, Swinford, Ballyhaunis, Kinsale, Baltinglass and Kells was approved at the same meeting, while a decision regarding the future of Skibbereen was deferred until autumn.
According to a Courts Service spokesman this morning (Wednesday) a specific timeframe for the closures has not yet been decided on. However it’s expected they will formally close on or before January 1, 2014.
“The closure of any courthouse is regrettable, as inevitably some inconvenience is involved for the public, legal practitioners and others who use the courts,” the spokesman said.
'However, the closure of court venues and the transfer of busines to larger courthouses which have excellent facilities, generates savings in day to day running costs and ensures that more long-term expenditure on general upkeep, maintenance and refurbishment is concentrated on venues with justifiable caseloads.
“More importantly, such moves tend to free up judicial and staff time to deal with more cases, over full days, in busier locations. This additionally can facilitate the scheduling of additional days for the hearing of family law cases, children’s cases and other business as required.
“In an environment of reduced funding and more particularly reducing staff numbers, it is essential that the staff resources of the service as deployed in an efficient and effective manner to ensure that the service continues to be in a position to support the judiciary in the administration of justice and in the maintenance of frontline court serviecs to the public, legal practitioners and all others who use the court.”
The news has been greeted with disappointment and anger, with Edenderry councillor Noel Cribbin questioning how government councillors and TDs can stand over it.
“It’s another nail in the coffin for towns like Edenderry and Birr,” he said. “All they’re doing is closing down rural Ireland.”