Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
652. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the funding that will be made available to Wicklow Courthouse to enable Wicklow County Council to carry out necessary refurbishment and restoration works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32784/26]
View answerManagement of the courts and operational matters, including matters pertaining to court buildings, are the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the exercising of its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.
To be of assistance, officials in my Department made enquiries of the Courts Service regarding the matters you have raised. The Courts Service has advised that for health and safety reasons, Wicklow Courthouse has been closed for several years. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has provided the Courts Service with costings and options for the full restoration of Wicklow Courthouse.
Funding has not been allocated to Wicklow Courthouse in the National Development Plan 2025-2030. However, funding has been allocated for preparatory and planning work to inform the business cases for projects involving the renovation and development of courthouses in Wicklow.
The size, geographical spread and age of the Courts estate means that its renovation, maintenance and management is a multi-annual programme of work which requires to be phased and progressed based on delivery capacity and affordability.
