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Construction of new family court faces delays

Construction on the new family-court complex in Hammond Lane in Dublin will not begin until 2026, according to a report in The Irish Times.

The newspaper quoted a spokeswoman for the Department of Justice as saying that revised approval in principle to proceed with the Hammond Lane PPP (public-private partnership) project was granted by the secretary general of the department in June.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee (pictured) had said in 2021 that she hoped to see construction of the new complex begin in 2023, and that it would be open by “2026 at the latest”.

Detailed plans

In May, acting justice minister Simon Harris announced that the development of two garda stations would be decoupled from plans for the new family-court project.

Detailed plans and layouts for the Hammond Lane building from the Office of Public Works provide for a five-storey over-basement building, comprising 19 courtrooms, consultation rooms, staff and judicial accommodation, a variety of public waiting areas, space for mediation and domestic violence support services, accommodation for legal practitioners, and custody facilities.