THE issue of access and remedial works to Tralee Courthouse was brought up again at the meeting of the Tralee Municipal District meeting, where a frustrated Cllr Terry O’Brien joked that he was tempted to commit a crime just to see the inside of the building.
The Municipal District wrote to the Courts Service in September calling on them to make the Courthouse in Tralee a more accessible environment for all. At the moment there is no access for wheelchair users.
On Monday, councillors received a copy of a letter of reply, received by the Council from the Courts Service on November 5, which stated it would “not be possible to provide all the necessary space and facilities within the current site.”
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The Courts Service said they were aware of the issues, but said account must be taken of the limited funding available to the Courts Service and the cost of any remedial works to improve accessibility and facilities in Tralee.
The letter stated that it is proposed to build a new Courthouse in Tralee, subject to securing a suitable site and “this will enable the Courts Service to provide improved facilities for all users and also allow the issue of accessibility to be addressed comprehensively.”
Labour Cllr, Terry O’Brien, was very disappointed with the response.
“For me personally, the Courthouse is a fabulous building. Access to the building is something we should be shouting about. Elderly people and people with prams don’t have proper access. I signed the papers to go for the 2007 general election in the jail cells – maybe it would have been better if I’d stayed there – but I signed them there because I couldn’t get access to the Courthouse. I’m tempted to commit a crime just to get in there!” he ended, on a light note.
Cllr Pa Daly said that many court sittings in villages around the county had ended and questioned where the money saved there has gone. He said Tralee is one of the only Courthouses of its size in the country which has not seen refurbishment in recent years.
The courthouse is breaking the Equality act 2010 which within this law is the disability discrimination act as they are discriminating against individuals as not t allowing equal acces to the building or at least making reasonable adjustment to the building for individuals to access it
Maybe a lawyer should be appointed to sue them and with the money they get use it to make reasonable adjustment to allow everyone to access the court
Maybe it is time to move the Courts
I agree with J Maher.
If a new modern court house was built, it would solve all the problems from wheelchair access for parking, maybe the Denny plan site which is close to the Garda station could be considered or used to create a sort of legal district which would enhance the area.
Also, the couth house as a historical building, could be turned into something more attractive like a museum – dedicated to the rose of Tralee contest or the GAA in Kerry. It’s an opportunity to better the town and the court service, to further generate another tourist attraction in Tralee town centre.
A win – win situation which is long overdue.