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For Written Answer on : 03/10/2024
Question Number(s): 134 Question Reference(s): 39507/24
Department: Justice
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice the number of District and Circuit Court judges that have retired in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of newly appointed judges in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
On foot of the recommendations of the Judicial Planning Working Group, which I established in 2021 to consider the number and type of judges required to ensure the efficient administration of Justice over the next five years and with a view to the medium to long term, the Government committed to a historic increase in the number of judges.
A first tranche of 24 additional judges was approved and subsequently appointed by Government in 2023, comprising 8 additional District Court, 8 additional Circuit Court, 6 additional High Court and 2 additional Court of Appeal judges.
In relation to the number of District and Circuit Court judges that have retired as well as those that have been newly appointed over the period 2022, 2023, and 2024 to date, I can confirm that over this time period, 20 judges have retired, and 38 judges have been appointed to the District and Circuit Courts.
In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, a breakdown by year has been provided below.
| Retirements * | ||
| Year | District Court | Circuit Court |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 |
| 2024 (to date) | 3 | 3 |
* includes 2 deaths in service and 1 resignation.
| Appointments | ||
| Year | District Court | Circuit Court |
| 2022 | 7 | 5 |
| 2023 | 12 | 10 |
| 2024 (to date) | 0 | 4 |
There are currently no vacancies in the Circuit Court and three vacancies in the District Court, with work underway to fill these vacancies as soon as possible.
