The Taoiseach is considering a proposal for designating an area in Dublin north of the Four Courts as a legal quarter, The Irish Times has learned.
The proposal, which has the support of the Minister for Justice, would provide tax incentives for the development of this part of the city similar to the incentives in the Financial Services area and the Digital Hub district in the south inner city.
The proposal, which comes from the Courts Service, is aimed at furthering investment in more court buildings and facilities.
The Four Courts complex is seriously overcrowded, and two new complexes, for family law and criminal law, are in need of urgent development, but in the current fiscal situation are unlikely to be developed with public funding alone.
It is Government policy to fund large-scale projects through public-private partnerships, and Mr McDowell has already said he is seeking such a partnership for the refurbishment of the court-house in Cork.
A specialised family law complex has been planned for some time, and a site for it identified and planning permission sought on Ormond Quay. It would have facilities necessary for cases of this type, including a creche, private consulting rooms and a cafe.
The Courts Service has also announced its intention to build a specialist criminal court complex, which would deal with criminal cases at Circuit Court, Central Criminal Court and District Court level.
At the moment most are heard in courts in the Four Courts complex, which also hears all other cases. This has given rise to security concerns and means that accused people are paraded through public areas in handcuffs.
The Courts Service pointed out that such a complex had been successfully developed in Belfast through a public-private partnership.
There are already tax incentives for parts of the north inner city around the Four Courts, and the Bar Council has benefited from them in developing two buildings in Church Street, which house barristers' rooms and other services.
It is understood that the proposal has the backing of Dublin City Council.