Statement from Minister for Justice Helen McEntee welcoming Hammond Lane progress

"I am delighted that the Part 9 Planning application in respect of the Dublin Family Courts (DFC) complex at Hammond Lane has been agreed and the development can proceed.

The granting marks a major milestone in delivering this project and I am very grateful to the OPW for their work and assistance in bringing the project to this point.

I recognise that the present facilities in central Dublin at Dolphin House, Chancery Street, Phoenix House and in the Four Courts do not adequately meet the needs of those children and families navigating the family law process.

That is why the construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond Lane is a key Programme for Government commitment and a priority project in the National Development Plan.

It will be built with the specific needs of family law users in mind and will provide a modern facility where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment with a range of support services at hand.

The new family court complex will provide the infrastructure to support the Family Courts Bill and our ongoing implementation of the Family Justice Strategy, which both recognise that children and families should be at the centre of the system.

These initiatives mark the beginning of the reform of how our family justice system operates, to try to make it work better for everyone engaging with it, but particularly for those who need additional supports and protections, such as domestic violence victims or vulnerable parents and children."

ENDS