asked the Minister for Justice whether he has reconsidered his decision not to extend free legal aid to persons in civil cases; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Legal Aid.
48.
As I stated in reply to a question on this subject on 12th November last, I do not propose to promote legislation to extend the existing legal aid scheme to civil cases, mainly for the reason that the extra cost involved would be so great as not to be justified in present circumstances.
Can the Minister give me any idea what the extra cost would be?
I have not got what I could call any kind of reasonable estimate of the actual cost, but my advisers feel that before we could do this we would need to have more experience of the present legal aid system in criminal cases.
The Minister said earlier the cost would be too much and now he says he does not know what it would be.
The Deputy will not misquote me. I said I have not sufficient information to enable me to give an accurate estimate of the cost.
Could the Minister give me any idea of what it will be?
I have told the Deputy that I do not propose to introduce that type of legislation at the present time.