There are fears Tralee may lose family law sittings at the stroke of a pen, due to new legislation and the lack of adequate court facilities.
The Courts Service plans to build a new courthouse in Tralee on a half-acre site at the Island of Geese, which it bought from Kerry County Council for €160,000.
The project has not progressed since due to a lack of funding, but it could be allocated funding under the revised National Development Plan, to be announced this month.
Meanwhile, the Courts Service has poured cold water on appeals for it to buy a site adjacent to the courthouse, due to be vacated this month.
While the Courts Service awaits funding to progress the new courthouse at the Island of Geese, there are fresh calls for the Courts Service to buy the An Post depot site which backs on to the existing courthouse, and refurbish and expand the 200-year-old existing courthouse instead.
That site is due to be vacated this month as An Post move its delivery and sorting unit to Monavalley; Kerry Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly says it is for sale, but An Post has told Radio Kerry it will not be making any decisions until it’s vacated.
A survey undertaken by Radio Kerry shows that five of the seven current Tralee MD councillors in 2025 would rather the current courthouse be refurbished than a new one constructed.
The Courts Service has said it’s purchased a site in Tralee, it’s not funded to purchase a second site in Tralee, and it’s anxious to progress work at the Island of Geese as quickly as possible.
Canice Walsh of the Kerry Law Society, says he does not believe that a new courthouse will be built before 2030, and money should be invested in the old building to improve facilities in the meantime.
The courthouse has used a powered evacuation chair for people with mobility needs since 2022, but this is not suitable for everyone with accessibility needs.
Local solicitors also say the courthouse is not suitable for family law, and the Courts Service could not confirm whether Tralee would lose family law services due to its current court facilities.
Canice Walsh says due to the new Family Courts Act 2024, signed into law by the President, this is still a possibility.
You can hear more on the future of Tralee's court facilities in this report, which was broadcast on the Kerry Today show this morning.
