The New Courts Service was inaugurated by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue, yesterday when he signed the order establishing the service's board and formally handed the administration of the courts over to it.
The new service was recommended by a working group on a Courts Commission under the chairmanship of Mrs Justice Susan Denham. Mr O'Donoghue pointed out that as Minister he would retain political accountability to the Oireachtas for the discharge of the functions of the new bodies. The service would be required to submit to the Minister an annual report and a three-year plan, and its chief executive, Mr P.J. Fitzpatrick, would appear before the Public Accounts Committee and any other Oireachtas committee when required.
Almost £15 million has been provided by the Department for a refurbishment and building programme for the courts this year. He said £16 million would be spent on IT over the development period. Already a criminal case tracking system had been implemented in the Dublin and Limerick District Courts, and this would be extended to all District Courts next year.