asked the Minister for Justice if he will explain the plans, if any, he has to expand the civil legal aid scheme to rural areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Civil Legal Aid Scheme.
238.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Estimates for 1982 did not provide funds to enable the Legal Aid Board to open additional law centres in rural areas this year, although it was possible to open a new law centre in Dublin in June. The funding of the Legal Aid Board for 1983 falls to be determined in the context of the overall Estimates for my Department and these have not been finalised.
However, I think it would be unrealistic, in present circumstances, to expect that the Legal Aid Board will be funded at a level that would enable them to open more law centres in rural areas next year. It is, of course, my intention that the board should be enabled to expand its services as soon as financial circumstances permit.
241.
asked the Minister for Education when he intends that construction of the Ernie O'Malley Museum project at Castlebar, County Mayo will commence.
Dublin South-East): The date on which building work could commence would be dependent on the date from which provision could be made for capital expenditure on the project. I am not in a position to state at this stage when it may be possible to make such provision.