Courts Service
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-30
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Maria Byrne (FG), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister for coming to discuss this all-important issue. I am very conscious of the fact that Limerick is shovel-ready in terms of the family courts. I welcome the Minister's announcement of the scheme and that he is looking at rolling out phase 1. As the Minister is probably aware, there are two courthouses in Limerick. There is one on Merchant's Quay and one on Mulgrave Street. The courts are all running in parallel with one another. A number of courthouses are available. We are at a very advanced stage, although behind Dublin and Cork. There are about ten courtrooms altogether between the two buildings. Certainly, I know that a lot of the family courts are taking place there as it is. Tusla is just up the road, which deals with family cases.
There could be two separate entities where criminal issues could be dealt with in one courthouse and family issues dealt with in the other courthouse. In family courts, there are very sensitive issues. Sometimes, people do not want to meet others or they are in a stressed state and need the family supports. That is why I am asking the Minister to consider Limerick in phase 1.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:53+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-30