Jim O'Callaghan

The justice, home affairs and migration minister yesterday provided an update on the project, which has advanced to the next stage in the procurement process.

However, family lawyers have expressed frustration with the pace of progress, with family proceedings currently being heard in courtrooms widely seen as unfit for purpose.

Tender documents for the complex, which will be delivered by way of public private partnership (PPP), have been published, marking the next stage in the procurement process following the shortlisting of candidates in November 2024.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “The Dublin family courts complex will be a modern, purpose-built facility where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment, with a range of support services to hand.

“It has been designed and will be built with the specific needs of family law court users in mind.

“Subject to successful completion of the procurement process current timescales envisage that construction will commence in early 2027.

“On completion, the Dublin family courts complex will replace the existing family law facilities in central Dublin at Dolphin House, Phoenix House, Chancery Street courthouse and in the Four Courts.”

Keith Walsh SC, partner at Dublin firm Keith Walsh Solicitors, told Irish Legal News that the family law courts were “yet again the poor relation as construction will not start until 2027”.

Next year is “10 years later than previously announced by previous ministers for justice”, he pointed out, and the new court facilities are “badly needed”.

“We are now on our fourth minister for justice, as this project started with Frances Fitzgerald in 2014, passed onto Charlie Flanagan then Helen McEntee and now Jim O’Callaghan,” he said.

“We still have no idea when the family courts in Dublin may be completed — and the current family law courts are not fit for purpose.

“The childcare courts have been housed in temporary Victorian-era criminal courts since 2016.”