Published Thursday, 02 February 2012
The Court Service has proposed shutting down courts in area such as Strabane and Limavady in a bid to centralise court services to the larger court buildings.
Until that decision is made, taxpayers' money is being spent on the refurbishment and maintenance of the buildings.
A Freedom Of Information request made by a NI newspaper revealed that £120,000 was spent last year alone refurbishing the court in Strabane - even though it's earmarked for closure.
Michaela Boyle, Sinn Féin MLA for West Tyrone, intends to raise the matter with the Justice minister, David Ford.
She spoke to UTV about her outrage over the spend describing it as "a waste of public money - especially here in the town of Strabane when much public money is needed for investment."
The Court Service is currently examining the viability of courts in Strabane, Bangor, Larne, Limavady and Magherafelt.