Court Accommodation
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-18
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Niall Collins (FF), Limerick County

I thank Senator Clifford-Lee for raising this matter. The construction of a purpose-built family law courts complex at Hammond Lane is a key priority for the Courts Service and is included in the national development plan. The new Dublin family courts complex will be a modern, purpose-built 19-courtroom facility, where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment, with a range of support services to hand. It has been designed and will be built with the specific needs of family law court users in mind. The family courts complex at Hammond Lane will benefit families who interact with the courts at some of the most challenging junctures in their lives.
The project is being delivered as a public-private partnership. Good progress is being made in delivering this much-needed facility. Key achievements to date include the following points. Approval in principle to proceed with the project was granted by the then Department of Justice in July 2023 following the submission of a business case by the Courts Service, as the sponsoring agency. Detailed plans and layouts for the building were developed by the OPW and approved by the Courts Service. They provide for a six-storey, over-basement building, providing approximately 18,250 sq. m of purpose-built accommodation. Planning permission was granted by the Commissioners of Public Works in April 2024. Technical and legal advisers were appointed by the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, on behalf of the Courts Service, in 2024. The procurement process was initiated in July 2024. The project is being procured by the NDFA on behalf of the Courts Service, in conjunction with the OPW, using the competitive dialogue procurement procedure pursuant to EU and national procurement law.
In November 2024, three candidates were prequalified to participate in the tender competition for the project.
Following preparation of the tender documents, the project was formally handed over to the National Development Finance Agency for procurement, in accordance with the project governance arrangements, in August 2025. On 28 August, the National Development Finance Agency issued the tender documentation to the three shortlisted candidates. I am advised that the competitive dialogue phase of the procurement process is complete. The closing date for the receipt of tenders is 25 March 2026. Subject to the successful completion of the procurement process, it is envisaged that construction will commence in 2027.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-18