Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
207. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he, his Department and the Courts Service will ensure the inclusion of a new courthouse in Portlaoise on the National Development Plan, in order to fast-track it to the next stage so as to replace the current courthouse on Main Street, Portlaoise, which is inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5966/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister I am committed to ensuring that resources are in place to deliver efficient and timely access to justice. Budget 2026 provides for an increase of €11m or 8.3% in funding for day-to-day court operations and the development of services.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Courts Service purchased a site for a new courthouse at Kylekiproe in 2020. Portlaoise Courthouse, among other venues, forms part of the Courts Service pipeline of projects at Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case stage. 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.
Although funding has not been included in this phase of the National Development Plan, I fully expect that there will continue to be further investment in this programme of work over future iterations of the NDP, subject to overall budget considerations.
