An average of 700 new construction jobs are to be created during construction work on seven courthouses across the country.

Final contracts were signed today for the construction of four new courthouses and the refurbishment of three others.

Three new courts will be built in Drogheda, Letterkenny and Limerick City.

In Cork, a new criminal court will be built while existing buildings will also be refurbished.

Meanwhile, there will be refurbishments to courthouses in Waterford, Mullingar and Wexford Town.

The entire project will cost around 135 million euro.

Construction is expected to begin early in the new year and will take about 24 months to complete - with court business moving to the new venues in 2017.

Among the facilities in the new courts will be video-conferencing and digital recording equipment, dedicated facilities for legal practitioners and the media - and enhanced accommodation for witnesses, victims, relatives