Kitt concerned at court closures

GALWAY East Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kitt has said he is dismayed by the decision to remove court sittings from Athenry. [private] According to Deputy Kitt, this amounts to a down grading of court services in Eastâ€â€šGalway, particularly as Ballinasloe Courthouse has already lost two staff. Deputy Kitt said: 'The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has confirmed that court sittings will no longer take place in Athenry from the beginning of December. This is in addition to the closure of a number of districtcourt houses in Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary and elsewhere. 'This is an extremely disappointing decision and is further evidence of unbalanced cuts to public services in more rural areas.â€â€š Much like the decision to shut down the army barracks in Mullingar, Cavan and elsewhere, it makes absolutely no sense to cut district court services in our community.â€â€š I am calling on Minister Shatter toâ€â€špublish a cost-benefit analysis of this decision by the Court Service to show the projected savings involved in this decision. 'What is equally disturbing is the lack of rural representation on the Court Services Provisional Buildings Sub-Committee.â€â€š This is the committee that has recommended the closure of a number of court houses and the removal of court sittings in certain locations. It seems to me that there is a disproportionate number due to close in more rural areas the West, and this raises real concerns about how well the region is represented by those who make these decisions. 'The withdrawal of Government and public services from small towns in times of recession will further cause difficulties for the local economy.â€â€š While some businesses are forced to reduce activity or in some cases close altogether as a result of the economic downturn, there is no logic in the Government also pulling back from local communities. â€â€šI am calling on the Justice Minister Alan Shatter to reconsider this decision.' [/private]