The renovation of the old dilapidated courthouse in Tuam could well commence next year – it is to be considered under a new Government capital programme for funding.
It has been learned that there will be a review of potential capital projects over the next couple of months and the old courthouse in Tuam is to form part of this process.
Since the courthouse on the Dublin Road closed more than 10 years ago, the twice monthly sittings have been taking place at different locations being rented by the Court service.
Already the courts in Tuam have been moved twice since the closure and, as they have been asked to quit their current premises at the old Grove Hospital, another venue is in the pipeline.
The fact that the courts in Tuam have no permanent location is proving quite costly for the Courts Service who are stuck with hefty bills for rent. But this situation could come to an end over the coming years. Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, Sean Canney said that there is an upcoming review of new projects to be funded and the old Tuam Courthouse will be included for consideration.
He said that funding of up to €2 million will be sought to carry out the renovations and a decision is expected well before the summer.
The court sittings in Tuam were moved from this location for health and safety reasons as the building had fallen into an extremely poor state of repair.
Prior to its closure, the Courts Service had purchased an extensive building to the rear of the courthouse from Tuam Stars GAA Club for €500,000 and this, too, is in a bad state of disrepair.
Minister Canney said that while he is in office, he is determined that the current situation of renting premises around Tuam for court sittings has to come to an end. He added that the town needed a purpose-built courthouse.
“This current nonsense has gone on for far too long. The Court Service do not have Tuam as part of their current building programme, so the funding has to come from somewhere else.
“There is an upcoming review of State capital projects and Tuam Courthouse will form part of this. But we have to push hard for it to be included for the funding required so that the renovation programme can get off the ground”, Minister Canney added.
Brendan McDonald of the Courts Service told the Connacht Tribune that their current building programme included the construction of seven new courthouses across the country with the second phase involving a further five new courthouses.
He said that, unfortunately, Tuam was not in their plans but added that if the OPW could source alternative funding, then he would welcome this “with open arms”.
Since the closure of the old courthouse, Galway County Council designated the front wall of the building as a protected structure – many consider it as an one of the worst eyesores in the town.
However, it is understood that if funding is provided for the courthouse, the Council will consider de-listing the wall as the whole property would have to be flattened in order to provide a state-of-the-art venue for court sittings.
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