Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
192. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the barrier that court fees may have on individuals seeking to engage in litigation especially in cases of constitutional importance; if his Department is undertaking any work to review these fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4663/26]
View answerMatters in regard to court fees are set by Statutory Instrument made by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The court fee structures currently in place are designed to be proportionate and balanced to ensure continued access to justice while supporting appropriate contribution to the efficient running of the court system overall.
The current fees system reflects the need to ensure the interests of applicants as well as considering the public interest in the smooth operation of the court system. This balance of interests, as well as applicable administrative considerations, is evident in the extensive range of existing exemptions from court fees already in place in regard to specific categories of proceedings and by some State bodies.
Matters arising in relation to court fees are kept under consideration by my Department as appropriate. I can confirm that S.I. No. 492/2014 (Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court (Fees) Order 2014) is currently under review with a view to revising a number of its provisions.
