Yesterday I attended the launch of the Women's Aid impact report of 2018, which focused on children let down by the system and we learned there were more than 20,000 referrals last year. I could raise many issues but I will focus on one, that of the family law courts. We have a state-of-the-art court building for criminals but what families who are going through the most difficult of circumstances must endure in Dolphin House is appalling. I attended the launch three years ago and at the invitation of the chair, I spent a morning there to see how bad the situation was. At that time we were told there was a place for a new law court on Hatch Street that was shovel ready but three years later nothing has happened and the situation has worsened. I want to ask the Tánaiste about the provision of a family law court to deal with people who find themselves in very difficult situations in Dublin.

This is a very real issue and I know the Minister for Justice and Equality is aware of it. My understanding is that he has plans to introduce a dedicated family court. I can get a more detailed response for the Deputy on that but that is certainly my understanding of his intention.

That has been the intention for ten years.