Changes contained in the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 2013 will increase the monetary jurisdiction of the
District and Circuit Courts, as follows:-
- the jurisdiction of the District Court in civil proceedings
will be up to €15,000.
- the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court in civil proceedings
(other than personal injury claims) will be up to €75,000. The
jurisdiction for defamation in the Circuit Court had previously
been increased to €50,000 in 2009.
- the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court for personal injury
actions will be up to €60,000.
The changes will take effect from 3 February 2014 in relation to
proceedings issued on or after that date. The primary objective of
this initiative is the reduction of litigation costs. It may also
mean more defamation claims will be issued before a judge sitting
alone in the Circuit Court as opposed to the High Court where such
claims are heard by a judge and jury.
