Courthouse should be made available to local community - Cowen

Local Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen has called on the Courts Service to work with Offaly County Council and local organisations to make Birr Courthouse available for community use.

Speaking this week Deputy Cowen said he has been working with Birr Tidy Towns since the announcement in recent months that district court sittings are to be transferred from Birr, in order to ensure the building will be maintained and made available to the local community.

“I have been calling on both the Courts Service and Offaly County Council to ensure that all possible options for use of the courthouse will be explored,” Deputy Cowen said, adding that he has received confirmation that the Courts Service will be in contact with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the local authority with a view to looking at possible public uses for the building.

“The loss of the district court sittings in Birr was a blow to the legal profession and local businesses alike and I, like many local groups and organisations, am keen to see this building maintained and available to the community,” he concluded.