Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 2

Written Answers. - Coolock (Dublin) Law Centre.

Ivor Callely

Question:

47 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the development plan for legal aid services in the Coolock area, Dublin 11; the progress, if any, that has been made via the interdepartmental review regarding the future funding of the Coolock Community Law Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [93/94]

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The Coolock Community Law Centre has been in operation since 1975, providing valuable professional legal advice and information to people in the Coolock area. The centre has been funded on a continuous basis by the Combat Poverty Agency since 1989.

My colleague, the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, secured additional funding this year for the expansion of the State's civil legal aid scheme. I believe that the work of the Coolock centre complements the State scheme and furthermore, brings a unique community dimension to the delivery of its services.

Discussions are ongoing between my Department and the Department of Equality and Law Reform as to the most appropriate source of future funding for the centre. I want to emphasise that there is no question of such funding being discontinued.