There are no proposals to move the monthly court sittings out of Athenry, according to local Fianna Fail Deputy Noel Treacy, as plans are underway to construct a new courthouse in the town.
Following last week’s Advertiser story in which it was stated that Galway city’s courthouse isto move to a new state of the art building, fears have been expressed that Athenry court may be one of those shut down and moved to the city.
Already one of the Connemara court sittings has been identified as one that will be brought into Galway next year.
However, DeputyTreacy says that the Athenry court sitting i s safe and that negotiations towards the acquisition of a site for a new courthouse will be soon underway.
“I have been informed by both the Courts Service and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Dermot Ahern, that the court service is currently pursuing the acquisition of a site in Athenry for the provision of a new courthouse.
“Negotiations are to begin shortly for the acquisition of a site in Athenry.
He added that the Court Service is also actively seeking temporary accommodation for Athenry court for the intermediary period, pending the provision of a new courthouse for the town and court district.
“I am very confident that if we can achieve a local consensus on the new facility, the court service will continue to serve the people of the greater Athenry area without interruption,” he concluded
