Criminal Legal Aid

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2012

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Ceisteanna (155)

John Browne

Ceist:

155. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 25 October 2012, if there are any further and or secondary fees to which solicitors and barristers are entitled to claim under the Criminal Legal Aid scheme in an indictable matter, other than those set out in the schedule attached to the reply to the previous parliamentary question, for example, fees for consultations and / or consideration of disclosure requirements in a particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49012/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

My reply to Parliamentary Question No. 158 on 25 October 2012 set out details of the main fees payable under the criminal legal aid scheme. I also informed the Deputy that disbursements may be covered which are reasonably made for the purposes of a case by a solicitor and are of a reasonable amount and that travel and subsistence expenses are payable to solicitors. No fee is normally paid for the review of disclosed material as this is deemed to be covered by the brief fee. The regulations also allow for the following claims for fees and expenses to be paid in certain circumstances: (a) solicitor and counsel can claim a fee of €97.22 in respect of any visit to a person in prison that is essential to the preparation and conduct of the person's defence and €91.52 in respect of a contested bail application to the Circuit Court or Special Criminal Court; (b) a consultation fee in connection with a criminal legal aid case (other than on a hearing date) can be claimed by solicitor and counsel where their client is on bail (amount depends on the duration of the consultation).