700 jobs to be created with construction of new courthouses around the country

Some 700 new jobs are to be created with new courthouses to be built around the country.

The Courts Service says four new courthouses are to be built and three others to undergo full refurbishments.

Planning arrangements have already been finalised, and access to the sites for construction teams will be granted from today.

Work is due to commence after Christmas.

The plan, costing €135m, will see seven projects in Cork, Letterkenny, Wexford, Limerick, Mullingar, Drogheda and Waterford.

It is to be delivered by way of a Public Private Partnership with BAM PPP PGGM Infrastructure Cooperatie U.A. (BAM).

The consortium will construct and deliver the projects and provide facilities management of the venues.

The Chief Justice Susan Denham, has welcomed the projects

She said the projects will create "a future which promises a great change in the axis of activity in the legal world of several cities and town's".

"The investment in these seven projects is the largest single investment in regional court structures in the history of the state".

"These projects will bring world class court facilities to each city or town. Each new courthouse will be of a standard befitting the serious nature of the business conducted there, and respectful of the dignity of the people who are called upon to appear in court, in any capacity", she added.

Work on the construction will take up to 24 months to complete, with plans to begin moving court business into the venues in 2017.

The projects include the design, build, finance and maintenance of facilities at seven courthouses:

• Drogheda, Co Louth - A new courthouse consisting of two courtrooms and associated facilities to be constructed on a landmark town centre site adjacent to the River Boyne.
• Letterkenny, Co Donegal - A new courthouse to accommodate four courtrooms and associated facilities to be constructed on a town centre site close to the existing courthouse
• Limerick City - A new criminal courthouse to be built on a site adjacent to Limerick Prison, to include six courtrooms, custody facilities, court offices and associated facilities
• Wexford Town - The refurbishment and extension of an existing landmark building to provide a new courthouse for Wexford Town consisting of four courtrooms, custody facilities, court offices and associated facilities
• Cork City - The refurbishment and extension of the existing landmark courthouse building at Anglesea Street to accommodate six courtrooms, improved custody facilities, court offices, the regional office and associated facilities
• Mullingar, Co Westmeath - The refurbishment and extension of the existing historic courthouse in Mullingar to accommodate three courtrooms, improved custody facilities, court offices and associated facilities
• Waterford City - The refurbishment and extension of the existing historic courthouse in Waterford to accommodate six courtrooms, improved custody facilities, court offices and associated facilities