asked the Minister for Justice the aid which is to be given to the Coolock Community Law Centre, Dublin; and whether similar assistance could be extended to similar centres elsewhere.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Community Law Centres.
23.
It has been repeatedly made clear to both FLAC and the Coolock centre over a period of years that following the coming into operation of the State's scheme of civil legal aid and advice financial assistance would not be available for voluntary bodies who provide legal services, and in response to representations made to me by the centre I indicated on 22 December 1980 that in fact no funds would be available to the centre from my Department for 1981. No provision has been made for payments to voluntary bodies of this kind in the recently published 1981 Estimate for my Department.
Arising from the Minister's reply, because of the reasons which he gave to Deputy Keating, namely, teething problems, failure in recruitment and policy not getting off the ground, there is great hardship——
That is a statement. Will the Deputy please put a question?
I asked the Minister if he was aware that there was great hardship. That is the question.
It is not necessarily a question.
It is a question. Please allow Question Time to go ahead with some kind of decorum and a modicum of respect for the place. Is the Minister aware that there is great hardship to the unfortunate women — and it is mainly women — who attend for the magnificent services because the Coolock centre is not being granted increased funds——
Certainly that is not a question.
In the circumstances will the Minister be good enough to consider at least for one year the question of giving them a grant?
The State's scheme of civil legal aid is meant to, and I believe will, meet the demand——
I am sure it will.
I should like to say to the Deputy that if one questions the capacity of the scheme to meet that demand now one should also take into account the fact that in the centre he is talking about there was only one solicitor but at the moment there are six solicitors employed on my scheme and there are four more on the way.
For the whole of Dublin.
Yes, but there had been only one. I should like to say to Deputy Browne that I will ask the Legal Aid Board if they would consider opening their next office in the Coolock area so that they can meet the demand there.
Has the Minister any idea when that will be?
I will ask them but I cannot say when they will do it. That is their job.