asked the Minister for Justice whether he will reconsider his decision to withdraw District Court Sittings from Drimoleague, Ballineen and Rosscarbery, County Cork.

The decision to discontinue sittings of the District Court at these centres, as part of the scheme for the reduction in the number of the districts of the district court, was taken after consideration of all the relevant circumstances, and I am unable to agree that it should be rescinded.

While we appreciate what the Minister has said in relation to the reasons for these economies, did the Minister take into consideration when coming to this decision the hardships imposed on small shopkeepers who now have to travel such long distances in order to comply with the requirements of the Weights and Measures Acts?

All the relevant objections raised were fully examined by the various legal bodies likely to be affected. I do not know whether it was possible to examine the case referred to by the Deputy.

Would the Minister reconsider his decision and instead of monthly sittings, hold two-monthly sittings at these centres?

This matter has been thoroughly considered and all the courts it is possible to retain have been retained. The question of the remaining courts has been examined in every aspect on two or three occasions.

Has the Minister taken into account the inconvenience and expense placed on litigants?

Yes.

Would it not be much better to have the justices at these centres every two months rather than have the litigants travelling to the neighbouring towns which are some distance away?

The courts to which these questions relate, and other courts in regard to which we have had questions, are courts in which over a considerable period no cases or only one or two cases have been heard. The distances between the courts are so small and the transport services so frequent that there is very little hardship on anybody.

Has it definitely been decided to implement this curtailment scheme as from 1st April?

Yes.

The people are becoming very law-abiding.

Certainly the court cases are very sparse.