Keith Walsh

The notice published by the Office of Public Works (OPW) yesterday marks a small step forward for the project, and means the plans for the 19-courthouse complex on Hammond Lane can now be inspected by appointment.

Appointments for viewings at the OPW and the Courts Service should be sent to dfcpart9@opw.ie or dfcpart9@courts.ie respectively.

Prominent family law solicitor Keith Walsh gave a cautious welcome to the news, noting that the completion of the project — first announced nearly a decade ago — remains years away.

Mr Walsh told ILN: “This is some good news for those involved in the family law justice system in Dublin, especially the families who have put up with inadequate court accommodation for years.

“It is a great end to 2023 to learn that development of the much needed family law complex in Hammond Lane has finally taken its first steps towards getting final planning to build, even though it is unlikely to be completed until 2028.

“However, you would have to say the pace of progressing this Dublin family court complex has been glacial at best and a more cynical observer might wonder if the courts will be completed by the early 2030s.”

He added: “The then minister for justice Frances Fitzgerald announced the project on 12th December 2014 with then Chief Justice Susan Denham and it is seven years since the Childcare Courts were moved to the Bridewell which at that time that was intended to be a temporary measure for two years. The conditions in Dolphin House District Court and Phoenix House Circuit Court are unacceptable.

“The huge increase in the volume of family law cases in the District Court in particular and in the area of domestic violence and childcare cases in particular means the new family law complex for Dublin is much needed and cannot come soon enough.

“The Law Society, the Bar, the Family Lawyers Association and the DSBA have been campaigning for years and while it is great to finally see some progress, another five years of inadequate courts is not acceptable. We now need new courts to be provided while we wait for the new courts.”