THE COURTHOUSE in Waterford is now “bursting at the seams”, according to the county registrar. More courtrooms are “needed now” to deal with delays of up to four years in the hearing of some cases.
From February, Waterford District Court will sit five times a week – compared to just two days a week less than two years ago – as the Catherine Street facility endeavours to meet a serious demand for more sittings.
Waterford county registrar Niall Rooney says only two courtrooms are currently available in the city – and more are “badly needed” and “needed now”.
“We are bursting at the seams here. Since I came to work here 19 years ago as county registrar, there have only been two courtrooms,” he said.
He continued: “In fact, that’s been the case since 1982. Waterford is a city and things have moved on here a lot. There’s a lot of commercial work, work in family law and also with the recession, there will be more problems. There will be more family law situations with families breaking down, and also crime always goes up in a recession.”
A major extension to Waterford Courthouse is planned by the Courts Service, which could increase the amount of courtrooms and generally improve facilities. However, a decision is still being awaited on whether that project will go ahead this year.
Waterford Labour TD Brian O’Shea says he understands that Waterford city needs seven courtrooms now to properly facilitate the administration of justice – and maintains it is imperative that the building project goes ahead.