Derek McDowell
Question:61 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, he has made in addressing the waiting lists in legal aid centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20278/98]
Vol. 495 No. 4
61 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, he has made in addressing the waiting lists in legal aid centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20278/98]
In consultation with the Legal Aid Board I continually monitor the position with regard to waiting times at the law centres operated by the Legal Aid Board. I am aware that waiting times in some law centres are continuing to increase, notwithstanding the allocation of significant additional resources to the board. A comparison of waiting times at the board's law centres at June 1997 and September 1998 follows.
The increase in waiting times at the board's law centres is attributable to a significant degree to the continuing increase in the level of demand on the board's services arising from the introduction in recent years of additional family law legislation, including the Domestic Violence Act, 1996, and the Family Law (Divorce) Act, 1996. In the calendar year of 1997, the Legal Aid Board provided legal services to 13,805 people. The number of legal aid cases requiring representation in court increased from 4,460 to 6,021, an increase of 35 per cent over the previous year.
This was the seventh successive year in which there was an increase in the level of service provided by the law centres operated by the Legal Aid Board.
The board operates a policy of providing a priority service in a range of issues which include domestic violence, child care and child abduction. A substantial number of appointments are given each month on a priority basis. For example, 165 of the 910 appointments offered in law centres in September 1998 were for priority matters. None of those accorded priority was put on waiting lists. In the Dublin area, 122 appointments were offered through the private practitioner scheme operated by the Legal Aid Board.
Law Centre |
June 1997 |
September 1998 |
Athlone |
4 |
14 |
Castlebar |
0.5 |
0.0 |
Cavan |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Popes Quay |
4.75 |
16 |
South Mall |
5.5 |
19.5 |
Blanchardstown |
4.5 |
3.5 |
Clondalkin |
8.25 |
13.75 |
Finglas |
3.25 |
4 |
Gardiner Street |
7.75 |
8.25 |
Mount Street |
6.75 |
10 |
Ormond Quay |
3.5 |
3.5 |
Tallaght |
4 |
15 |
Dundalk |
3 |
6.75 |
Ennis |
4.75 |
5.75 |
Galway |
4.5 |
17.75 |
Kilkenny |
1 |
1.25 |
Letterkenny |
2.75 |
4.25 |
Limerick |
3.75 |
8 |
Longford |
1.75 |
0.75 |
Monaghan |
4 |
5.5 |
Navan |
0.0 |
3.75 |
Nenagh |
5.25 |
9.5 |
Newbridge |
12 |
17.25 |
Portlaoise |
2.25 |
3 |
Sligo |
5.5 |
12.5 |
Tralee |
4 |
6 |
Tullamore |
8.75 |
3 |
Waterford |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Wexford |
3 |
2 |
Wicklow |
9.75 |
19 |