asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the comments made by the chairman of the Legal Aid Board in his annual report for 1983 and 1984, in which he said that the legal aid scheme was still very far from providing the type of comprehensive national service that was envisaged at its introduction; if he agrees with the comments of the chairman; if he intends to take any steps to improve the level of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Legal Aid Board Annual Report.
13.
I am aware of the comments made by the chairman of the Legal Aid Board in presenting the board's report for 1983 and 1984 to my predecessor recently. I also note that the chairman acknowledged in the same connection the serious problem for the Government that arises from constraints on public finances.
In deciding in May 1985 to expand the civil legal aid scheme by making resources available for that purpose under a provision in the Funds of Suitors Act, 1984, the Government acknowledged that there was a need to give priority to the provision of civil legal aid services despite the current financial difficulties.
Four new law centres will have been established by mid-1986 under that expansion including three centres in new locations, at Tralee, Athlone and Tallaght. The Government also indicated that it was hoped that further law centres would be opened in 1986 and 1987 if sufficient funds, for that purpose, were available under the Funds of Suitors Act. As my predecessor said in answering Parliamentary Questions on 29 May 1985, this will depend on the cost of the new Children's Court for Dublin, which is also to be funded under the Act.