asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement in relation to the appointment of additional staff at the Galway law centre; and if he intends to employ substitute staff on occasions such as maternity leave.
Written Answers. - Galway Law Centre Personnel.
27.
The Galway Law Centre has had to impose restrictions on taking on new clients for some time. Since the end of April 1988, when one of the two solicitors at the Centre went on maternity leave, the Law Centre is able to take on extreme emergency cases only.
The question of staffing levels at the various law centres, is primarily a matter for the Legal Aid Board, which administers the scheme of civil legal aid and advice. However, as I indicated in my reply to a question on 19 April, 1988 (Dáil Debates: Vol. 379; col. 1220) the board is experiencing difficulties, generally, in meeting the demand for services under the scheme, due to the current restrictions on staffing and financial resources in the public service. The board is not in a position to provide additional staffing for the Galway Centre from within its existing resources.
The difficulties of the Legal Aid Board must be seen in the context of reductions in the public service generally which do not permit the recruitment of additional staff. Within that general context, I am looking at the particular problems of the Board to see if anything can be done.