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Courts Service Annual Report For 2023 published

23rd September 2024

The 2023 Annual Report of the Courts Service, published today, reflects another busy year for the Courts. The overview of work and key developments captured by this report, show that the Courts Service of 2023 is a constantly evolving organisation which in addition to meeting the everyday demands of a busy courts system, shows the Service and the Judiciary have embraced many new challenges and changes.

Annual Report 2023
Watch the Annual Report 2023 Highlights Video

The Chairperson of the board of the Courts Service, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, said of the report, “This is but a snapshot of the work of the courts in 2023, which highlights the strides being made in dealing with the legacy of challenges associated with a post pandemic era, and consistently driving and implementing change to improve court services to users. Reductions in waiting times and the higher levels of cases finalised and resolved across the system, is evidence of the huge efforts of my colleagues in the judiciary and the staff of the Courts Service. Extra judges and modernisation of systems are already making great changes for all who deal with the Courts” .

Courts Service CEO, Angela Denning said that, 

“24 new judges were appointed in 2023 in the wake of the publication in February 2023 of the report of the Judicial Planning Working Group.  That report provided an independent and objective assessment of the need for a greater number of judges in the short to medium term, and the introduction of a model to assess future judicial resource needs, including associated support, on an ongoing basis in the future. 

These extra judges have had an instant impact, reducing backlogs and waiting times, and supporting initiatives like the new Planning and Environment Court and administration associated with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which commenced in 2023. 

The implementation of the JPWG report, together with the changes in progress under the Courts Service Modernisation Programme and other areas of reform is a continued investment into an improved courts system for Ireland”.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD welcomed the Report saying, 

“The Courts Service continues to drive positive change through digital innovation. I’m pleased to see so many examples of how this is improving people’s experiences of engaging with the courts system and attending court. 

“I am committed to ensuring that the courts are resourced to administer justice effectively and efficiently for our citizens.

“In 2023, an historic additional 24 judges were appointed following Government approval of the recommendations of the Judicial Planning Working Group. There is a further recommendation of 20 extra judges subject to an assessment of the impact of the first tranche on court business.”

Work is well under way on assessing the impact of the increased judges. This has included capturing improvements in efficiency and effectiveness with regard to caseloads, changing demographics, economic conditions, and the impact of new legislation as well as improvements from modernisation measures.

Minister McEntee continued:

“I thank the Courts Service for its hard work and diligence in getting planning permission this year for the Dublin Family Courts Complex in Hammond Lane, which is a key project in my Family Justice Strategy and will be a game changer for those navigating the family justice system in Ireland.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the Courts Service to facilitate access to justice for our citizens and families in a fair, more efficient and compassionate way.”

Criminal Case Numbers – improved disposal and resolution of cases across the system

367,000 new criminal matters were presented to the Courts last year and 338,000 cases were finalised.

Improved case management systems and approaches saw the number of cases finalised increased by 10% in the Central Criminal Court and 5% in the Circuit Court.  This increased throughput reflects further progress in alleviating waiting times which had built up during the years of the pandemic.

The number of offences of more serious crime reduced from 21,024 in 2022 to 19,569 offences in 2023. The courts finalised cases relating to 26,486 serious offences last year – up from 24,242 the previous year– showing that the numbers of new serious offences not only dropped year on year – but the courts finalised and cleared more serious cases throughout the year.

Likewise, at District Court level – despite a small decrease in less serious crime incoming, the court disposed of 338,392 cases last year – up from 308,315 in 2022. 

The Central Criminal Court continued to make progress in dealing with the volume of cases on hand.  At its peak in 2022, that volume was 76% higher than in 2019.  Despite progress last year, the volume of cases on hand remains 61% higher than in 2019.  There was an increase of 56% in new cases in 2023 in comparison with 2019.   Disposal rates have increased by 73% since 2019. That’s a three quarters increase in the number of cases dealt with compared to five years ago.  This was partly due to the use of modern court facilities outside of Dublin. Last year the Central Criminal Court sat in Waterford, Limerick, Kilkenny, Wexford, Longford, Sligo, Castlebar, Carrick on Shannon, Mullingar, Tullamore, Monaghan and Cork.

Sentences in Rape Cases

539 sentences for Rape (including attempted rape) were handed down last year in the Central Criminal Court following trials involving 741 offences and 101 defendants.  Sentences ranged from life sentences in 42 cases; over ten years in 290 cases; between 5 to 10 years in 135 cases; two to five years in 34 cases; and up to two years in 38 cases.

  • 62% of the 539 sentences handed down for Rape ( including attempted rape) range from ten years to life imprisonment.

Circuit Criminal Court:

In the Circuit Criminal Court, the figure for cases awaiting finalisation peaked in 2021, which saw a 37% increase in comparison with 2019.  Progress was made in this area in 2023, for which the figure was down to 22% above 2019, but which was reduced by 10% since its peak in 2021.

  1. The Circuit Court issued 14,002 sentences for more serious crime last year: this included 3,660 sentences of imprisonment, 2,051 suspended prison sentences, 653 probation orders, 191 community service orders, 3,750 bonds to keep the peace.
  2. The District Court sent 16,875 more serious offences to the Circuit Court last year, involving 6,271 defendants. Of the cases resolved by the Circuit Court 13,229 offences were pleaded guilty to, 758 saw conviction following a trial with 510 acquittals (along with other outcomes).

District Court -  New Cases Received

  1. Drugs accounted for 29,809 new cases before the District Court last year, down from 30,045 in 2022, and over five years down from 33,242 in 2019 ; - a 10.5% reduction.
  2. Larceny / fraud and Robbery totalled 33,849 new cases last year, down from 37,500 in 2019;  a 10% reduction.
  3. Public order and assault cases totalled 43,750 new cases last year, down from 47,990 in 2022. This shows a decrease of 9% year on year.
  4. Road Traffic offences accounted for 170,839 new cases in 2023. This is down from 181,969 road traffic offences last year, and over five years down from 226,000 in 2019; - almost a 25% reduction over five years.
  5. 3,211 new sexual offences were received by the District Court last year - down from 3,600 in 2019;  an 11% reduction. 

Civil Cases

New Civil cases across all courts increased to almost 180,000 last year up from 170,000 in 2022, and 140,365 in 2021.  The courts completed 143,644 civil cases last year up from 137,000 in 2022.

There were 17,346 new cases in the High Court during 2023 – an almost 8% increase on 2022 figures.  

In October 2023, a new case management IT system was launched in the High Court which will provide a radical improvement in the service provided to users, and an improvement in the quality of court data.

Personal Injuries accounted for 13,434 new cases last year ; of which 4,538 were in the High Court, 7,500 in the Circuit, and 1,401 in the District Court. In 2022 the figure totalled 12,459 – but this was down from 21,981 in 2019. In 2023 there were 39% less new Personal Injury cases than in 2019.

  • There were 1,610 awards made in PI cases last year down from 2,003 in 2021.  

The High Court awarded €256,515,241 in in awards last year for personal injury – roughly the same as 2022. The highest award in the high court was €20,500,000 – with the lowest being €1,279. (Medical negligence cases accounted for €167,162,945 of the total amount)

At Circuit level the meant awarded for all cases was €16,700,875 – across 871 cases: the highest award was €76,841 and the lowest €1,000. The District Court awarded €2,158,170 in personal injury cases.

Small Claims cases in the District Court increased to 2,527 cases last year up from 2,159 in 2022. 444 cases were resolved in court – with the out of court Small Claims procedure resolving 1,759 cases.

Other High Court Matters:

  1. There was a large increase in the number of injunctions sought in the High Court Chancery list up to 326 from 188 the previous year. This is the highest it has been in a long time with 314 applied for in 2018.
  2. Possession cases regarding property increased to 1,091 last year from 898 in 2022. The Circuit Court granted 212 possession orders last year – similar to the previous year.
  3. There was a large drop in breach of contract cases last year down to 336 from 1,458 the previous year. (The previous year there was specific industry problem which led to the increase).
  4. Recovery of debt cases increased to 20,492 cases last year – up from 17,291 in 2022.
  5. Bankruptcy Petitions made to the High Court by creditors increased to 78 last year – up from 17 in 2022. The numbers of people themselves making a bankruptcy petition reduced to 78 last year from 92 the previous year.
  6. There were 779 asylum judicial review cases lodged with the High Court last year – a more than doubling of the 336 cases in 2022. This represents a 132% increase. The High Court resolved 406 cases up from 349 the previous year.

The Strategic Infrastructure cases in 2023, were up to 108 from 85 in 2023 – with the court resolving 129 cases compared to 89 the previous year.  (note strategic infrastructure cases are now being heard as part of the Planning and Environment list, which was launched in December 2023)

Family Law

Divorce cases applied for last year totalled 5,218 down from 5,551 the previous year. The courts granted 4,850 divorces last year.

Domestic Violence: In total the District Court received 25,570 applications for protections under Domestic Violence legislation last year. This was up from 23,356 the previous year. And up from 20,501 in 2019. Over five years that marks a 25% increase.

Safety orders granted totalled 2,975 last year from 9,913 applications. In 2016, there were 3,316 safety orders granted from 6,069 applications.

Applications for Supervision and Care Orders regarding Children increased in 2023 to 17,583 up from 14,985 the previous year. (These figures include multiple applications and orders in cases and not the number of children or cases).

Appellate Courts:

The Supreme Court, 2023 saw an increase of 10% in the number of applications for leave to appeal filed, when compared to 2022, as well as a 9% increase in the number of applications determined. 

The ordinarily wait for a hearing is within 20 weeks of the court determining the appeal can be taken. 

The Court has no backlog or delays other than by the extent to which parties require time to fulfil necessary procedural steps.

The Court of Appeal had 325 new civil cases appeals last year and dealt with 368.  It had 308 new criminal appeals and resolved 304.