Covid-led ‘virtual courts’ saved €7m last year

A TEN-FOLD increase in remote video court hearings has saved the State more than €7m, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Figures obtained by the MoS reveal that court appearances via videolink by those in custody rose to 20,000 in 2021 – 10 times more than in 2015.

There were 5,755 remote court sessions in the first 14 months after lockdown began and some 10,000 court sittings have been facilitated by video, hearing court cases, applications, motions and hearings in the past two years.

The use of such technology saved the justice sector €7,127,400 last year in the cost of transport and security for prisoners going to court.

‘This ten-fold increase in video conferencing was fast-tracked by the use of video technology in courts becoming important in accessing justice during the pandemic,’ a Courts Service spokesman told the MoS.

‘The Courts Service expanded its video court capacity in 2021 with a €2.2m investment in video technology in 48 extra courtrooms. There are now over 100 courtrooms with such facilities. Expansion will continue throughout 2022 and 2023.’

The technology is also now being expanded to Garda stations.

‘A pilot scheme with 15 Garda stations has commenced, whereby those in remand in a Garda station can appear before a judge remotely,’ the spokesman said. ‘With 250 successful appearances completed in the pilot period, the Courts Service will continue to work and support An Garda Síochána in this initiative.’

There were almost 6,000 virtual courts in the first 14 months of the pandemic.

‘The Courts Service reacted quickly and flexibly as the pandemic closed down large parts of society and the economy. Virtual remote courts were organised, with a total of 5,755 remote court sessions held in the first 14 months after lockdown began. This has expanded and new streamlined methods for managing remote court sessions were devised. Approximately 10,000 court sittings have been facilitated, hearing thousands of court cases, applications, motions and hearings in the past two years.’

The spokesman added: ‘Covid-19 has had a modernising effect on the Courts Service. We have effectively piloted new and more digital ways of working.’

The Courts Service also fasttracked other technology during the restrictions, including the national roll-out of e-licensing, an online way to lodge, pay, and serve notice parties, track applications and collect licensing court orders.

The spokesman said: ‘No report of a courtroom transmission of the virus has happened in the period of restrictions.’