asked the Minister for Justice his proposals to improve procedures relative to the administration of family law; and when he proposes to introduce them.

17.

asked the Minister for Justice his proposals for the revision and improvement of the administration of the courts.

18.

asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied that adequate facilities exist in the district courts to cater for the increased work load arising out of the passage of recent family law legislation.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 17 and 18 together.

Court procedure, in the narrower sense of that term, is a matter which is regulated and kept under review by court rules committees. These are expert committees consisting of judges of the various courts and members of both branches of the legal profession. Apart from the activities of these committees, court procedure has also been subject to review by the Committee on Court Practice and Procedure which sits under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Walsh of the Supreme Court. That committee has made a series of reports on various aspects of the subject, not all of which have as yet been considered. I am hoping to make arrangements which will result in action being taken as soon as possible on all outstanding reports of this committee.

Other aspects of court administration, such as personnel requirements, accommodation and other facilities, are the subject of continual review, updating and improvement by my Department.

With regard to the administration of family law, I accept the desirability to improve, where possible, court and court office accommodation so as to make it more suitable for the particular needs of family law cases, and I am glad to say that in Dublin plans are already well advanced for providing the courts with additional accommodation of that sort. Plans for improvements in this respect are also being incorporated in the proposed reconstruction of the courthouse in Waterford and every effort will be made to see what may be possible in a number of other areas, though I think it right to say that my information is that there are likely to be major difficulties in quite a few places.

The additional work arising in certain court offices—including District Court offices—from recent family law legislation is taken into account in assessing the staffing requirements of those offices, and some additional posts have, in fact, already been created on this basis.