Vol. 507 No. 1
99 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of money lodged in the account of the funds of suitors; the consideration, if any, which will be given to use all or part of these funds to develop a community law centre in Ballymun, Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16188/99]
There is currently £127,177.98 lodged in the funds of suitors account held in the accountants office in the High Court.
The question of opening a new law centre would be a matter in the first instance for the Legal Aid Board. The Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995, provides at section 3(3) that the Legal Aid Board shall, subject to the provisions of the 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 board has informed me that it has no plans at present to open additional law centres, but the matter will be kept under review.
