State pressing ahead with plan to move Tralee court

THE Courts Service seems determined to press ahead with plans to move Tralee Courthouse, despite fierce opposition from the Law Society.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald told the Dáil the landmark building on Ashe Street isn’t fit for purpose and a much larger courthouse is needed.

The Courts Service has met with Kerry County Council to discuss whether a site on the outskirts of Tralee could be used for a new facility.

Any move will be strongly opposed by Kerry Law Society who insist the courthouse should stay where it is.

THE Courts Service appears determined to press ahead with its plans to move Tralee’s Historic Courthouse despite fierce opposition from Kerry’s legal community.

Responding to Dáil questions from Kerry TDs Michael Healy-Rae and Brendan Griffin on November 29 and 30, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said she had been told the courthouse in Tralee is no longer fit for purpose.

Minister Fitzgerald said the Court Service told her that in order to provide a suitable service Tralee’s two-chamber courthouse needs at least two extra courtrooms and related facilities.

According to the Courts Service this would require a building significantly larger than the current courthouse while the scope for developing the 19th century building on Ashe Street is “extremely limited.”

“The Courts Service explored the possibility of acquiring adjoining buildings on Ashe Street a number of years ago to provide a larger site but satisfactory terms could not be agreed,” Minister Fitzgerald said.

“In order to advance matters, the Courts Service decided it had to consider other sites including, if necessary, sites outside the town centre,” the Minister said.

The Courts Service has had some discussions with Kerry County Council regarding the possibility of moving the courthouse to a new purpose built building on a brown field site on Tralee’s outskirts.

Previously it had been planned to move the Courthouse – and Tralee Garda Station – to new premises in the Ballymullen area of Tralee. That proposal fell by the wayside in the wake of the financial crash.

Any move would be vociferously opposed by the Kerry Law Society who – at their AGM in late November – unanimously backed a motion by Tralee solicitor and Sinn Féin Councillor Pat Daly calling for the courthouse to remain on Ashe Street.

The Kerry Law Society say the required improvements to the existing court building could easily be facilitated if the courthouse was expanded into a largely unused site to its rear.

The Courts Service said all potential avenues are being explored and that no final decision has been made.

The Service said it will consider the views of all interested parties as part of its decision making process.