The changes to the monetary jurisdictions of the civil courts provided for in section 2(1) and part 3 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 took effect on 3 February 2014.

From that date, the new limits of the civil jurisdictions will be:

• District Court – €15,000,
• Circuit Court in civil proceedings other than personal injury actions – €75,000,
• Circuit Court for personal injury actions as defined in section 2 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 – €60,000.

The commencement date of 3 February 2014 has been established by the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 (Jurisdiction of District and Circuit Court) (Commencement) Order 2013 (SI 566 of 2013).

These jurisdictional changes are accompanied by new court rules, including the Superior Court Rules (Rules of the Superior Courts (Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013) 2014 (SI 16 of 2014)) and fees orders for all courts.

The District Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2014 (SI 17 of 2014) make significant changes to District Court civil procedure, including the manner of commencement of such proceedings and the application of a new scale of costs. From 3 February 2014, a District Court civil proceeding must be commenced by the filing for issue and service of a ‘claim notice’ or PI summons (as appropriate), and this will remain valid for service for one year after the day it is filed.

The following new fees orders also operate from 3 February:

• District Court (Fees) Order 2014 (SI 22 of 2014)
• Circuit Court (Fees) Order 2014 (SI 23 0f 2014)
• Supreme Court and High Court (Fees) Order 2014 (SI 24 of 2014)