The Courts Service
The Courts Service is an independent State Agency which was set up in November 1999 by the Courts Service Act, 1998. The Courts Service is responsible for the administration and management of the courts in Ireland.
The primary functions of the Courts Service are to:
- manage the courts;
- provide support services for the judges;
- provide information on the courts system to the public;
- provide, manage and maintain court buildings; and
- provide facilities for court users.
The functions of the Courts Service do not include the administration of justice nor is the Courts Service accountable for judicial decisions. Judges are totally independent when carrying out their judicial functions. The judiciary are employed directly by the State and not by the Courts Service. They act as members of the Courts Service Board or Committees of the Board in an administrative capacity.
The Judicial Support Unit was set up within the Courts Service in 1999 to provide support services to the judiciary.
The Judicial Support Unit deals with:
- Validation of Circuit and District Court Judges travel and subsistence claims
- Judicial attire
- ID cards for Judges
- Judges’ Information Handbook
- Accommodation for Superior Courts Judges on Circuit
- Judicial Visitors
- Protocol matters
- Liaising with the Department of Justice & Equality
More detailed information concerning the organisation and remit of The Courts Service, including the many specific supports it provides for the judiciary, is to be found on their website: www.courts.ie