Vol. 466 No. 6
62 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the waiting lists at the legal aid centres in Dublin; the remedial measures, if any, he has considered to redress this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11932/96]
The waiting periods for legal aid applications in each of the full-time law centres of the Legal Aid Board in the Dublin area as of 30 April 1996 is set out in the following tabular statement. Waiting times at the law centres are continually monitored by the Legal Aid Board and remedial action is taken, as necessary.
As a result of the programme of expansion and development of the Legal Aid Board which I introduced in 1993 the number of law centres operated by the Legal Aid Board in Dublin increased from five to seven. There was a corresponding increase in the number of staff employed in those law centres, from 39 in 1963 to a current figure of 69. These initiatives have brought about an overall reduction in waiting time at the Dublin law centres, where the waiting times at the end of April, 1996 were as follows: one centre at less than one month; two centres at two months; three centres at three months; one centre at six months.
I am confident that the reduction in waiting times achieved by the board to date are set to continue in 1996 and beyond.
|
Law Centre |
Waiting Time 30 April 1996 |
|
Dublin Area: |
|
|
Ormond Quay |
2 months |
|
Gardiner Street |
6 months |
|
Mount Street |
3 months |
|
Finglas |
3 months |
|
Tallaght |
3 months |
|
Clondalkin |
Under 1 month |
|
Blanchardstown |
2 months |
