The 2024 Annual Report of the Courts Service, published today, reflects an ever-busy time for the Courts. The Courts Service of 2024 is a radically changed organisation compared to when it was established in November 1999. In addition to meeting the everyday demands of a busy courts system, the report shows the Service and the Judiciary have embraced and led on many modernisation initiatives and changing workload.

Read the 2024 Annual Report here:  Annual Report 2024
Watch the Annual Report 2024 Highlights Video

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan, said

"An independent and well-functioning courts service is, of course, imperative. An efficient legal system, which guarantees timely access to justice for all, is central to any civilised modern society... I want to emphasise that I, and my Department, are committed to ensuring adequate resources for the Courts Service, so that it can support the judiciary and provide an excellent service to all users of the courts... It is a priority of this Government to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. To this end my Department aims to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity... This past year marks the first full calendar year of supporting a significantly enlarged judiciary and court operations. ..As committed to in the Programme for Government, an additional 20 judges will be appointed within the first 12 months of this government's tenure. It is my intention to ask the Judicial Appointments Commission to initiate the selection processes for these judges later this year... Taken together, these two sets of appointments will represent an increase of approximately 25% in the number of Judges in Ireland."

The Chairperson of the board of the Courts Service, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, said of the Report

“This report reflects an ever-busy time for the Courts. It gives a snapshot of the many areas of activities in many areas, showing improvements in the way matters are dealt with, together with changes in some areas of work such as reductions in some case types and increases in others on a year on year basis. Where possible, we track changes over several years and attempt to provide context for such changes in particular areas and years."

The report is basically a two for one offer – in that it reflects on what efforts we have made to make our courts remain accessible, more efficient, and showing how we approach the organisation of a vast number of buildings, people and cases. It also shows a statistical overview of the case types which come before the courts and an insight into what it is we are asked to determine.

The courts deal with whatever matters are presented to them, and it is very much a reflection each year of what is happening in society: what it is people are experiencing who have to take an action, respond to one, or who come before the courts as witnesses, victims and accused in criminal proceedings".

Ms Justice Dunne, said of the changes in 2024 regarding technology and digital improvements

“ The availability of the video technology in courtrooms throughout the country provides the Judiciary, practitioners and their clients our justice sector partners, and vulnerable users with improved options to enable cases to get on and be heard.165 courtrooms arenopw now video-technology enabled.

Likewise, she pointed out that 95% of charge sheets are now processed electronically – with almost 121,000 sheets handled in 2024.

She said the Report provides “further evidence of the efficiencies resulting from the appointment of additional judges – including the reduction in the number courts cancelled due to insufficient judicial resources”.

Courts Service CEO, Angela Denning said that,

“New legislation impacts Courts and court offices, providing challenges for staff as they, the Judiciary, legal practitioners and other court users get used to new practices and procedures. Such complex legislation is particularly challenging when the demand is strong from commencement, for example with the Civil Orders against Relevant Conduct (commonly known as Stalking or Restraining Orders), introduced in September 2024."

In the first four months of operations, District Courts saw the following activity re restraining orders:

• 314 applications have been received.
• 133 full restraining orders were granted.
• 107 interim orders were granted.

At the end of 2024 we had achieved the first four years of our decade of modernisation and the potential of the transformation was becoming evident.

Justice sector colleagues started to experience benefits in terms of improved data-sets, operational efficiencies afforded by 165 technology-enabled courtrooms, and improved information for users.

A great source of pride, last year, was the Family Law Reform team winning a Civil Service Innovation and Excellence award for the comprehensive plain language family law information on courts.ie.

Developed with the user, for the user, this information project won for “Citizen Impact and Customer Service.” Using the same approach, the Family Law Reform team moved their focus to District Court Family Law forms. The forms, which were trialled in 2024, received positive feedback from users. 60% of users reported that they were able to complete the forms themselves without having to retell, often traumatic stories, to Courts Service staff. This project is going live nationwide in 2025 for all users.

Criminal Case Numbers

Improved disposal and resolution of cases across the system

390,158 new criminal matters were presented to the Courts last year an increase of 6.3 % on the previous year, and 356,045 cases were finalised, and increase of 5.2%

The Court of Appeal had 341 new criminal appeals last year – up from 308 in 2023. The Court disposed of 269 appeals in respect of 2,014 offences (304 appeals in respect of 1,847 offences in 2023).

The Central Criminal Court saw a decrease of 16% in cases-on-hand. New cases also decreased (-10%) while matters disposed of increased by 24%. This trend continues a positive pattern of reducing numbers of cases waiting to be dealt with by the Court - having already reduced by 10% in 2023.

Cases-on-hand remains 35% higher than pre-pandemic levels and the volume of new cases is 40% higher even with last year’s reduction. With additional judges from the implementation of Judicial Planning Working Group recommendations, the disposal rate jumped by 73% over 2019 figures.

The Circuit Criminal Court continued to make progress dealing with cases on hand, which decreased by 3% in 2024. New cases decreased marginally (-1%) while cases disposed of increased by 10%. As with the Central Criminal Court, positive progress is being made to reduce the number of cases on hand, but it is still 20% higher than 2019.

The District Court had increased activity in terms of the total number of offences listed in Court (+6%), the number of adjournment orders (+4%) and the number of offences disposed of (+4%). The higher level of offences being disposed of is a continuation of a positive trend experienced over the last few years.

The number of new offences of more serious crime increased from 19,569 offences in 2023 to 22,822 in 2024.  The courts finalised cases relating to 27,821 serious offences up from 26,486 in 2023, and 24,242 the previous year– showing that the courts finalised and cleared 15% more serious cases over a two year period .

Likewise, at District Court level –The numbers of less serious cases coming to the court increased by 6.5% up to 350,852. The court disposed of 309,787 such cases last year.

 

Sentences in Rape Cases

The Central Criminal Court  - which largely deals with murder, attempted murder and rape cases -  saw trials relating to 1,512 offences involving 265 defendants in 2024.

New cases received involved 2,810 offences involving 435 defendants

434 sentences for Rape (including attempted rape) were handed down last year in the Central Criminal Court. This was made up of 177 prison sentences, 242 other prison sentences partly suspended and 14 detention orders for juveniles.

Of the 434 sentences for Rape 9 attracted life sentence, 261 received over 10 years imprisonment, 106 between 5-10 years, 54 between 2-5 years

There were 531 other prison sentences for other sexual offences, 109 partly suspended prison sentences, 14 fully suspended and 4 detention orders for juveniles.

• 62% of the 434 sentences handed down for Rape (including attempted rape) range from ten years to life imprisonment.
   

Circuit Criminal Court:

• The Circuit Court issued 14,858 sentences for more serious crime last year, up from 14,002 the previous year: this included 3983 sentences of imprisonment, 2,073 suspended prison sentences, 562 probation orders, 154 community service orders, 3,776 bonds to keep the peace.
   
• The District court sent 19,944 more serious offences involving 6,610 defendants to the Circuit court last year. This was up from the 16,875 more serious offences sent to the Circuit Court in 2023, involving 6,271 defendants. An increase of 18%.
   
• Of the cases resolved by the Circuit Court 13,601 offences were pleaded guilty to, 1,153 saw conviction following a trial with 541 acquittals (along with other outcomes).

 

District Court   

New Cases Received

• Drugs accounted for 27,783 new cases before the District Court last year, down from 29,809 in 2023, and 30,045 in 2022: and down from 33,242 in 2019 ; - a  16.5% reduction over six years
   
• Larceny / fraud and Robbery totalled 39,038 new cases, up from 33,849 new cases in 2023. A 15.3% increase year on year.
   
• Public order and assault cases totalled 47,956 in 2024 -  up from 43,750 new cases in 2023 . This shows a increase of 9.6% year on year.
   
• Road Traffic offences accounted for 185,578 new cases in 2024, up from 170,839 in 2023. This is an increase of 8.6% year on year – Yet over six years it is down from 226,000 in 2019; - almost an 18 % reduction.
   
• 3,650 new sexual offences were received by the District Court last year – up from 3,211 the previous year an increase of 13.67%.
   
• Juveniles before the District Court faced charges in relation to 577 drugs matters, 1,108 larcenries,756 public order matters and 1,048 road traffic matters.

 

Civil Statistics

New Civil cases across all courts increased to almost 184,000 last year up from 180,000 in 2023, 170,000 in 2022, and 140,365 in 2021. That an increase in new civil cases of 31% over four years.

The courts completed 148,120 civil cases last year up from 143,644 in 2023 and 137,000 in 2022. The Courts finalised 11,000 more civil cases last year than two years previously.

Most of the increases in the civil area occurred in the high court where 21,371 new cases were initiated last year. This was an increase on the 17,346 new cases in 2023 and the 2022 figure of 15,971. Over two years the High Court has seen an increase in new cases of 33% / or one third.

 

Personal Injuries Awards

There were 12,989 new personal injury cases last year across the courts in 2024. This is down from 13,434 in 2023. In 2024 there were 41 % less new Personal Injury cases than in 2019 – when the figure was 21,981

A reduction in the amounts awarded reduced from €256 million to €135 million in the High Court. At circuit level awards dropped from €16 million to under €13 million: Ands at District Court level from €2.2 million to €1.5 million.

In total the level of awards for personal injury reduced across the courts by over 45% last year compared to 2023.

 

Other areas in the Civil Courts:

• Possession Cases: Increase in new cases, but a reduction in orders made. Possession cases regarding property increased to 1,135 new cases last year up from 1,091 in 2023, and 898 in 2022. The Circuit Court granted 141 possession orders last year – down from 212 in 2023.
   
• Breach of contract 1,435 new cases initiated last year up from 337 the previous year. (There was a specific industry problem which led to the increase).
   
• Recovery of debt cases increased to 22,584 new cases last year, up from 20,492 cases in 2023, and 17,291 in 2022. This is a 31% increase over two years.
   
• Execution orders following judgments in debt cases: The number of such orders almost doubled last year to 1,608. This is up from 843 the previous year. An increase of 91%.
   
• Proceeds of Crime:  cases for the forfeiture of property that is the proceeds of crime increased from 43 in 2023, to 60 new cases in 2024.: an increase of 40% year on year.
   
• Regulation of Professions: relating to appeals or confirmations of findings of regulatory authorities of registered professions – increased from 189 cases in 2023, to 232 new cases in 2024: a 23% increase
   
• Planning and Environment List cases increased in number to 241 cases last year up from 108 in 2023. The court resolved and finalised 253 cases last year – up from 129 in 2023. The number of cases resolved by the court increased by 96% year on year
   
• Divorce cases applied for last year totalled 5,004, down from 5,218in 2023, and 5,551 in 2022. This is a 10% reduction in divorce cases over two years.
   
• Domestic Violence: In total the District Court received 25,270 new applications for protections under Domestic Violence legislation last year. This is almost the same as the previous year which saw 25,570 in 2023, and 23,356 in 2022. It remains up from 20,501 new cases in 2019. Over six years that marks a 23% increase.
   
• Applications for Supervision and Care Orders regarding Children continued to increase last year, when 21,684 new applications were made. This compares to 2023 when there were 17,583, and up from 14,985 in 2022. Year on year there was an increase in new applications for these orders of 23%. Over a two-year period the increase was almost 45%. (These figures include multiple applications and orders in cases and not the number of children or cases).
   
• Winding up of Companies: Applications to wind up 89 companies were made in 2024, compared to 44 in 2023 – The number of winding up petitions presented in 2024 is just over double the number presented in 2023. Approximately 37% of the total number of Winding Up petitions presented in 2024 were presented by the Revenue’s Collector General compared to 14% of the total in 2023.
   
• Probate and Wills: The numbers of wills which went through probate last year totalled 18,797, up from 15,571 the previous year – an increase of 21% -despite the numbers of applications remaining the same

 

Legal Costs in 2024:

The Annual Report for 2024 reveals consistent demand for the services provided by the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators

• 912 valid applications for Adjudication were issued by the Office during 2024.
   
• The average waiting time from application for Adjudication to initial hearing date, allowing for additional case numbers, remained at 7 weeks, maintaining the high standards set from 2021 onward.
   
• The overall value of claims for legal costs lodged for Adjudication in 2024, was €145.3m.
   
• There were 1,019 Adjudication cases with a value €176.1m, disposed of in 2024.
   
• The value of Adjudications in hand as of year-end 2024 was €75.8m

In 2024 the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators received 912 new cases to determine costs where they have not been agreed between the parties. The Adjudicators finalised 1019 cases. Of the €145.3 million in claims filed, there was €35.25 million costs determined by the adjudicators, and there was a deduction of €14.77 million in costs.

The full report will be published a s a separate document on www.courts.ie today

 

Statistical Highlights

• 2024 saw levels of Personal Injury awards reduced by over 45% compared to 2023. Figures also show a 41% decrease in new PI cases compared to 2019.
   
• Planning and Environment cases increased in number to 241 cases last year up from 108 in 2023. The number of cases finalised by the court increased by 96% year on year.
   
• Supervision and Care Orders for children - 45% increase in applications over two years
   
• 62% of the 434 sentences handed down for Rape (including attempted rape) range from ten years to life imprisonment.
   
• Drugs cases in the District Court reduce by 16.5% reduction over six years
   
• Larceny / fraud / robbery cases show a 15.3% increase year on year.
   
• Public order and assault cases show an increase of 9.6% year on year.
   
• Road Traffic offences show an increase of 8.6% year on year – Yet over six years show almost an 18 % reduction.
   
• New sexual offences show an increase of 13.67%.

 

The Courts Service in Numbers

Number of Judges at end 2024: 195

• No of courtrooms in country: 238
   
• Jury Summons Issued: 237,447
   
• Prison Service video courtroom appearances: 23,103
   
• Number of full-time equivalent staff at end 2024: 1,276
   
• Technology enabled courtrooms: 165
   
• Court Funds managed: €2.499 billion
   
• Capital Expenditure: €65.32m
   
• Charge Sheets processed electronically: 120,957 (95% - processed electronically)