Crime is taking its toll on the legal system and alternative methods of punishing offenders is now needed, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell claimed earlier today.
The warning came as the Courts Service revealed it is to pilot a small claims court on the internet later this year to cut costs and workload.
Some 700,000 matters were dealt with in 250 courtrooms throughout the state last year at a cost of €104 million to the taxpayer.
The figures sounded an alert on how long the courts could cope, said Minister McDowell.
Speaking at the launch of the Annual Report of the Courts Service 2005, he urged a new emphasis on "alternative dispute resolution. The sheer volume of work that is going through our courts is very, very striking indeed," he said.
"One thing I think we should be conscious of as a society is that we cannot constantly load more and more work on the judicial system without thinking carefully through the consequences."
He cited recent drink-driving legislation brought in by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen, where an administrative disqualification and penalties are issued, as an example of dealing with certain offences away from the courts.
Something similar will apply under criminal justice legislation signed into law last week relating to certain minor public order offences.
"The sheer volume of district court summonses does sound a warning note as to how long we can sustain bringing all of these cases to court when there are alternative ways of dealing with them," he said.
In the autumn, the Courts Service is to pilot an online service for dealing with small claims in a bid to increase efficiency. Consumers who have a grievance will be able to have their case resolved before the virtual court.
The system will allow claimants to pay fees, lodge papers and track their cases online, cutting down on the number of hearings before the small claims court, which do not require legal representation.
Shifts in population has also meant a number of new courthouses are to be built throughout the state.
Four are to be built within greater Dublin and its commuter belt at Maynooth in north Co Kildare, Blanchardstown, Tallaght and Swords, all in Co Dublin.
PA