LIMERICK is an “obvious location” for a new dedicated Family Court division, according to local Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne.
The first dedicated family courts will begin operating at the beginning of next year as outlined in an implementation plan for the Family Courts Act 2024, which will introduce changes to the operation of the family-justice system in Ireland.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan announced that three locations will be chosen to start operating as family courts under the new system in January 2027.
Addressing the Justice Minister in the Seanad this past week, Senator Byrne said: “It is essential that the first phase of implementation is grounded in locations that can best demonstrate the model’s effectiveness from the outset.”
“Limerick is an obvious choice for one of these locations. It hosts a substantial volume of High Court and Circuit Court sittings, with more provincial High Court sittings and Circuit Court sittings than any other location.”
The Central Criminal Court currently sits in Limerick on a full-time basis, alongside two sitting Circuit Criminal Courts.
“At District Court level, the case for Limerick is equally compelling,” the Limerick Senator said.
“The city carries a significant family law caseload, alongside a high volume of cases involving the Child and Family Agency, TUSLA.”
She said that “these developments reflect a clear recognition of Limerick’s capability, infrastructure, and strategic importance within the justice system. Limerick also has separate courthouses for criminal and family law matters at Mulgrave Street and Merchants Quay. This is a critical, practical advantage. It allows for a more appropriate and sensitive environment for parties before the family courts, many of whom are dealing with deeply personal and often vulnerable circumstances.”
In response to Senator Byrne’s comments, the Justice Minister said that while he hadn’t made any decisions on the three locations yet, Limerick “certainly have a first mover advantage in terms of its first representative who’s come to me indicating they have a preference for it”.
“To a large extent, it’s going to be based on factors such as the preparedness of the buildings” as well as their availability and services available there.
“You’ve indicated to me there are two courthouses in Limerick, and that could possibly be a mechanism of separating family law from other types of work,” Minister O’Callaghan added.
The introduction of such legislation, according to the Justice Minister, would result in “the most significant reforms of the family-justice system in the history of the State”.
Changes will include full-time specialist judges assigned to deal with family law within new family court divisions, and the introduction of divorce applications at both District Court and Circuit Court level – a measure that has been opposed by some in the legal industry.
The plan will be introduced on a phased basis before a full national roll-out to minimise “disruption to the operation of the courts, as well as ensuring lasting change”.
It’s hoped it will be fully operational across the country from January 2029.
Judges with specific expertise in dealing with families and family law matters will also be assigned to these three locations on a full-time basis.
The plan, if successfully implemented in Limerick, would allow “for a more appropriate and sensitive environment for parties before the family courts, many of whom are dealing with deeply personal and often vulnerable circumstances”, according to Senator Byrne.
“The new family law legislation has been put in place to make the court experience less stressful and accessible for families. A cornerstone of this will be the creation of these specialised family court divisions.
“This change is not simply administrative, it will transform how family law is handled. By removing cases from the broader civil court framework, a new responsive and sensitive environment will aim to resolve often complex and emotional family matters,” she added.
This sentiment was also echoed by the Justice Minister who commented: “We need to recognise that when it comes to family law disputes, you know, they are highly sensitive disputes, we need to go out of our way to ensure that we can try and facilitate mediated resolution of the disputes, and we want to make the environment as amenable as possible for people who find themselves before the courts”.
Senator Byrne also added what she deems Limerick’s capacity and availability to accommodate these changes.
The Minister concluded: “I’ll certainly give careful consideration to Limerick, but I can’t guarantee anything, the process remains ongoing”.
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