I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to the House for the first and second Commencement matters.

I welcome the Minister of State. I appreciate his taking the time to answer this Commencement matter.

As those who are long-standing Members of this Chamber will know, this is an issue that I have been raising since my election in 2016. There is a long and sorry history to the proposed new family courts complex at Hammond Lane. The site was bought in 2000 by the OPW, and a new family law complex for Dublin was promised in 2014. Currently, Dublin's family law courts are housed at Dolphin House, Phoenix House, Chancery Street and the Four Courts complex. As a solicitor, I know these courthouses well and have practised in them. They are completely unsuitable for court users and legal practitioners. They are old and without modern facilities. They are lacking in the privacy that the family law system needs, given that those who are engaging in complex family law issues need privacy.

In July 2023, almost ten years after it was announced that a new family law courts complex would be delivered at the Hammond Lane site, the Department of Justice gave approval in principle to proceed with the Dublin family courts complex as a public-private partnership. Until this point and still today - I passed by the site recently - it has been a massive hole in the ground in the north inner city. It is a blight on that community and a blight on Dublin, particularly the northside. In April 2024, planning permission was granted for a six-storey, over-basement building, including 19 courtrooms, consultation spaces, staff and judicial rooms, a variety of public waiting areas, spaces for mediation and domestic violence services and supports, rooms for legal practitioners and custody facilities.

This is really good and is needed for the people of Dublin. Dublin has waited long enough for this new family courts complex. I believe it is at the procurement stage at present. I ask the Minister of State to give us a clear outline as to where the project is at, when the procurement stage will be finished and when it will be open to the public.

I thank Senator Clifford-Lee for raising this matter. The construction of a purpose-built family law courts complex at Hammond Lane is a key priority for the Courts Service and is included in the national development plan. The new Dublin family courts complex will be a modern, purpose-built 19-courtroom facility, where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment, with a range of support services to hand. It has been designed and will be built with the specific needs of family law court users in mind. The family courts complex at Hammond Lane will benefit families who interact with the courts at some of the most challenging junctures in their lives.

The project is being delivered as a public-private partnership. Good progress is being made in delivering this much-needed facility. Key achievements to date include the following points. Approval in principle to proceed with the project was granted by the then Department of Justice in July 2023 following the submission of a business case by the Courts Service, as the sponsoring agency. Detailed plans and layouts for the building were developed by the OPW and approved by the Courts Service. They provide for a six-storey, over-basement building, providing approximately 18,250 sq. m of purpose-built accommodation. Planning permission was granted by the Commissioners of Public Works in April 2024. Technical and legal advisers were appointed by the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, on behalf of the Courts Service, in 2024. The procurement process was initiated in July 2024. The project is being procured by the NDFA on behalf of the Courts Service, in conjunction with the OPW, using the competitive dialogue procurement procedure pursuant to EU and national procurement law.

In November 2024, three candidates were prequalified to participate in the tender competition for the project.

Following preparation of the tender documents, the project was formally handed over to the National Development Finance Agency for procurement, in accordance with the project governance arrangements, in August 2025. On 28 August, the National Development Finance Agency issued the tender documentation to the three shortlisted candidates. I am advised that the competitive dialogue phase of the procurement process is complete. The closing date for the receipt of tenders is 25 March 2026. Subject to the successful completion of the procurement process, it is envisaged that construction will commence in 2027.

I thank the Minister of State. As he outlined, very challenging matters happen in these courts. We need secure premises. The Minister of State will know that a number of judges have been attacked in Phoenix House and Dolphin House. There are no secure arrangements in those buildings for people who are going into custody on foot of the matters being discussed. It is vital that this new building is built as soon as possible.

I am delighted to hear that the procurement process is finished. The Minister of State said that construction will commence in 2027. Does he have an approximate time in 2027 for its commencement? How long is it envisaged that construction will take?

I thank the Senator. As I stated, the Dublin family courts complex will be a six-storey-over-basement building that will provide 19 family law courtrooms, staff and judicial accommodation, consultation space, facilities for the Legal Aid Board and legal practitioners, and accommodation or a range of services that operate in the area of family law, including mediation services and providers of domestic violence support services. The building will have a variety of public waiting areas, including child- and family-friendly waiting areas, and will be fully accessible. On completion, the Dublin family law courts complex will replace the existing family law facilities in central Dublin at Dolphin House, Phoenix House and Chancery Street courthouse in the Four Courts. I will revert to the Senator with a firmer date in 2027 for the expected commencement.