Latest news with #CourtsService
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Number of small claims court cases have more than halved since 2019
The public is lodging fewer cases year on year to the small claims court, according to data released to The Irish Times. In all, 2,081 such cases were lodged last year – a 55 per cent decrease from 2019 when 4,627 cases were brought. Courts Service spokesperson Gerry Curran said the reasons behind the decline were 'varied' and there might be 'a greater awareness among goods and service providers of the process and a willingness to settle complaints more quickly'. He also said 'the pandemic caused a downturn in the levels of business across various civil areas of the courts, as some commercial and consumer activity waned during much of this period'. READ MORE Small claims cases are a procedure for consumers and businesses based the State to resolve disputes up to €2,000 without need of a solicitor. These make up about 3 per cent of all District Court cases. For a fee of €25 people can bring claims concerning goods, services, damage to property or non-return of key money – which is a rent deposit for a room in a house where a landlord lives or for a holiday home. Electrical goods, furniture and fittings and holidays are the most common types of claims for goods and services. Overall, 65 per cent of cases are settled without going to court. This usually happens when the court registrar contacts both sides in the dispute after a small claim is lodged. Just under a quarter of cases lodged are heard by a judge. The likelihood of a claim succeeding once it makes it to court is quite high. Last year 70 per cent of the 478 cases which went ahead with a hearing were successful. The Courts Service said it had upgraded its website to explain the small claims process more clearly, with a guide to the procedure and notes on how to make a claim. 'We don't want one of the reasons people do not proceed with a small claim to be that they do not understand the process or it is too complex to proceed with,' Mr Curran said. 'An increased awareness of the small claims procedure and the simplification of the online process should see an increase in activity.' The Courts Service said claimants could not request a remedy for time spent dealing with the issue, emotional distress or costs related to making the claim. Debt cases, personal injury claims, disputes over hire purchase/leasing agreements, claims about residential rental deposits where the landlord does not live in the property, insurance matters and claims against government bodies are also excluded. For parties based in another EU country, the European small claims procedure should be used.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Refurbishment works at Wicklow courthouse subject to national funding
The former courthouse has been closed due to health and safety concerns since September 2010. Since then, Bray has served as the main court venue for County Wicklow. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has provided the Courts Service with costings and options for the full restoration of Wicklow Courthouse, ranging in price from around €13 million to €17 million. The Courts Service has also advised Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan that Wicklow Courthouse was included in its submission for the NDP. This means that further progress in relation to the building and timeline for its complete refurbishment will depend on funding allocated under the revised plan. Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers completed a review of the plan in July 2025, however there was little detail on what specific projects will receive funding. In the meantime, the OPW has recently undertaken some works to preserve the roof of the building to address the dry rot which has spread to the adjoining buildings. The Courts Service has further advised that, while open to making the courthouse available for community usage, it is not currently able to do so for health and safety reasons. Despite that, officials from the Court Service have liaised with Wicklow County Council and made the adjoining former Library building available to the council, which has been used as a Ukrainian hub since 2022. In addition, the Courts Service are open to engaging with all interested parties on how the building can be used in the future.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
District court president revokes former judge's decision to close two Munster courthouses
A decision by a former district court judge to close two Munster courthouses has been revoked by the president of the district court. Earlier this year, former Judge Brian O'Shea wrote to the Head of Circuit and District Court Operations, indicating that he was transferring the sittings in Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir district courts to Clonmel courthouse from November 1. He had also indicated that he was to transfer sittings for Youghal district from the local courthouse to Dungarvan. Mr O'Shea, however, resigned from the bench in recent weeks to resume his barrister career. A spokesman for the Courts Service confirmed that following his resignation, the President of the District Court, Judge Paul Kelly, revoked his direction to transfer court sittings from Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir courthouses. 'Judge O'Shea had previously revoked his direction regarding the transfer of court sittings from Youghal to Dungarvan. "At the Judicial Planning Working Group (JPWG) steering committee meeting last week, the group highlighted as a priority that all districts will be examined as part of the proposed restructuring of District and Circuit Court boundaries. "This is one of the key recommendations to deliver on from the JPWG report and will also be a key element in the implementation of the new Family Law Courts Act.' Former mayor of Tipperary and local Fine Gael councillor in Cashel, Declan Burgess, has welcomed the decision by Mr Kelly. He described the decision as 'a major win for Cashel, Carrick-on-Suir, and for all who have campaigned to protect local access to justice'. He said: 'From the outset, I made it clear that I totally opposed the closure of Cashel courthouse. It was a short-sighted move that ignored the needs of rural communities and the important role this facility plays in our justice system. "In recent weeks, I actively engaged with the Courts Service and others, seeking clarity and urging them to reconsider the decision in light of Judge O'Shea's sudden resignation. I welcome Judge Kelly's intervention and leadership in restoring fairness to the process.' He pledged to continue 'working to ensure it is invested in and maintained as a vital local service". Communities in the two Tipperary towns, as well as Youghal, had been concerned about the decision to move the court hearings out of their towns because it would result in the absence of gardaí from their areas to attend hearings in Clonmel and Dungarvan. Following the direction by Mr O'Shea in March, the Courts Service said it had commenced engagement with stakeholders, including legal practitioners, gardaí, State solicitors, the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service, local family law user representative groups, and unions representing court staff.
BreakingNews.ie
14-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Courts Service launches first Irish language strategy
The first Irish language strategy for the Courts Service in Ireland has been published. The service said the aim of the strategy is to evolve it into a 'genuinely bilingual organisation'. Advertisement Irish language strategy manager Donal O Gallachoir said: 'The goal is that the public will experience an active bilingual offering without delay or difficulty. 'We also aim that staff use of the first national language is actively welcomed and encouraged.' The strategy contains 44 actions across six priorities and provides a vision for the development of the Irish language across the next three years in the organisation. It aims to develop a centralised Irish language office, improve quality and availability of an Irish language service and bring about parity between English and Irish in all service provision in the Courts Service. Advertisement The service said it will work to actively recruit those with Irish language skills, alongside the development of a comprehensive tailored Irish language training programme. It also said it will develop a framework for providing Irish language service to the public online, in person and on the phone.
Irish Examiner
14-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Courts Service launches first Irish language strategy
The first Irish language strategy for the Courts Service in Ireland has been published. The service said the aim of the strategy is to evolve it into a 'genuinely bilingual organisation'. Irish language strategy manager Dónal Ó Gallachóir said: 'The goal is that the public will experience an active bilingual offering without delay or difficulty. 'We also aim that staff use of the first national language is actively welcomed and encouraged.' The strategy contains 44 actions across six priorities and provides a vision for the development of the Irish language across the next three years in the organisation. It aims to develop a centralised Irish language office, improve quality and availability of an Irish language service and bring about parity between English and Irish in all service provision in the Courts Service. The service said it will work to actively recruit those with Irish language skills, alongside the development of a comprehensive tailored Irish language training programme. It also said it will develop a framework for providing Irish language service to the public online, in person and on the phone. Read More New housing law could see people lose emergency accommodation if offers are repeatedly refused
