Vol. 500 No. 1
279 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a law centre in Ballymun, Dublin 11, particularly in view of the fact it is the wish of the Ballymun Regional Authority Limited to provide a network of necessary public services in the regenerated Ballymun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3431/99]
The Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995 provides at section 3(3) that the Legal Aid Board shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions. Accordingly, as Minister, I may not direct the board in how it carries out its statutory functions.
The Legal Aid Board has recently completed a programme of developing a network of law centres throughout the country and now operates 30 full law centres. Dublin City and the greater Dublin area are served by seven full-time law centres at Gardiner Street, Ormond Quay, Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Finglas and Upper Mount Street, as well as a part-time law centre in Balbriggan, County Dublin. The board has informed me that it has no plans at present to open additional law centres, but the matter will be kept under review.
