Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 May 1996

Vol. 464 No. 8

Written Answers. - Free Civil Legal Aid.

Liam Aylward

Question:

16 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he is constrained by the Government's embargo on recruitment in relation to the expansion of civil legal aid services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8849/96]

Michael Woods

Question:

19 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the current position in relation to the waiting lists for free civil legal aid at the various law centres around the country in view of the extra resources being provided; whether the waiting lists have been reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8726/96]

Ivor Callely

Question:

30 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the waiting lists in respect of free legal aid services in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8938/96]

Ivor Callely

Question:

31 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the additional number of or, improvements to, free legal aid centres in Dublin in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8940/96]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 19, 30 and 31 together.

The waiting periods for legal aid applications in each of the 26 centres of the Legal Aid Board as of 31 March 1996 are set out in a tabular statement which I propose to have circulated in the Official Report. In nine centres the waiting time was one month or less, in another nine centres the time was two months or less, in three centres the time was between two and three months, and in the other five centres the time was between three months and six months. This compares most favourably with the position that pertained in 1993 at the time I first took over as Minister with responsibilities in relation to legal aid. At that time the waiting period in half of the board's 16 centres was between one month and seven months and in the remainder it ranged from eight months and up to 14 months.

I am continuing to ensure that the board has the resources to expand and develop its services consistent with its need to provide legal aid and advice as widely and as quickly as possible throughout the country. The extra resources provided over the past three years, 1993, 1994 and 1995, has led to an increase in the number of full-time centres from 16 to 26 and it is my intention to open a further four centres this year at Newbridge, Navan, Tullamore and Cavan.

Staff numbers in the same period have more than doubled and, notwithstanding the constraints on Civil Service staff numbers, an additional 20 posts have been authorised for the four new law centres and extra staff has been made available for the board's head office. This inevitably had brought about a dramatic reduction in waiting lists and significantly improved access to justice. These matters, however, continue to be subject to review and where waiting lists, for whatever reason, are unacceptable they will be addressed by the board in consultation as necessary with my Department. Staffing levels in the board are now unprecedented and I am confident that the board will use those resources to the optimum extent possible to ensure that all centres can deliver a good and efficient service.

While I have no plans to open further law centres in Dublin the new centres for counties Kildare and Meath which border on Dublin, should help alleviate the pressure on the Dublin centres, in particular those of Clondalkin, Tallaght and Blanchardstown. The Legal Aid Board is committed, as I am, to improving the services of the Legal Aid Board and to provide an efficient and cost effective service to the public.

I should like to emphasise that the board has special procedures in place to ensure that in certain cases, such as where the protection of a person from domestic violence is concerned, there is no delay in handling such cases. To reduce the waiting lists which existed at the beginning of 1993 the board availed of private solicitors under a pilot project established for the purpose. The pilot project is at present confined to the Dublin area pending completion of a review of its operation. I am satisfied, however, that this private solicitor project has much to contribute to the enhancement of the quality of service provided by the Legal Aid Board.

Law Centres waiting list as of 31 March 1996.

Centre	Waiting Period
Ennis, County Clare	1 month
Popes Quay, Cork	3 months
South Mall, Cork	2 months
Letterkenny, County Donegal	4.5 months
Blanchardstown, Dublin 15	2 months
Clondalkin, Dublin 22	under 1 mth
Finglas, Dublin 11	2 months
Gardiner Street, Dublin 1	5.5 months
Mount Street, Dublin 2	4 months
Ormond Quay, Dublin 1	2 months
Tallaght, Dublin 24	2 months
Galway	2 months
Tralee, County Kerry	4 months
Kilkenny	——
Portlaoise, County Laois	4 months
Limerick	2.5 months
Longford	under 1 mth
Dundalk, County Louth	3 months
Castlebar, County Mayo	2 months
Monaghan	under 1 mth
Sligo	1.5 months
Nenagh, County Tipperary	1 month
Waterford	——
Athlone, County Westmeath	2 months
Wexford	1 month
Wicklow	1 month