Vol. 511 No. 3
77 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the proposed move of the headquarters of the Legal Aid Board to Caherciveen, County Kerry; the steps, if any, being taken to reduce the waiting times at legal aid centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24309/99]
As the Deputy will be aware, Government decision S. 14422K of 21 July 1999 approved the transfer of the Legal Aid Board's head office to Caherciveen, County Kerry, and authorised the Office of Public Works to source an appropriate building for the board's use.
The Office of Public Works placed an advertisement in the national and local press on 9 October 1999 inviting proposals from owners of potentially suitable sites in the Caherciveen area by 21 October 1999. The property consultant involved visited certain sites on 11/12 November 1999 and I understand that a report was sent to the Office of Public Works for consideration on 18 November.
On the second matter raised by the Deputy, I have addressed fully the question of the steps being taken to reduce the waiting times experienced at law centres in my oral answer to Question No. 75 on 12 October 1999 and I appended waiting times at law centres as at 31 August 1999 to that reply.
For the Deputy's information, the position in each of the centres at the end of October 1999, and comparison figures for December 1997 and 1998, are set out in the following table:
|
Law Centre |
December1997 |
December1998 |
October1999 |
|
Athlone |
6.75 |
17.00 |
5.00 |
|
Castlebar |
0.00 |
0.50 |
1.50 |
|
Cavan |
1.00 |
1.50 |
3.50 |
|
Popes Quay |
10.00 |
18.00 |
5.00 |
|
South Mall |
11.50 |
N/A |
8.00 |
|
Blanchardstown |
8.00 |
2.50 |
3.00 |
|
Clondalkin |
10.50 |
0.00 |
3.50 |
|
Finglas |
2.50 |
6.50 |
5.00 |
|
Gardiner Street |
5.50 |
10.00 |
12.00 |
|
Mount Street |
7.75 |
9.00 |
4.00 |
|
Ormond Quay |
5.25 |
5.50 |
9.00 |
|
Tallaght |
10.00 |
18.00 |
4.00 |
|
Dundalk |
3.00 |
8.00 |
5.50 |
|
Ennis |
4.00 |
7.00 |
4.00 |
|
Galway |
10.00 |
20.50 |
7.50 |
|
Kilkenny |
1.00 |
2.50 |
6.00 |
|
Letterkenny |
1.50 |
5.50 |
2.00 |
|
Limerick |
4.50 |
8.00 |
6.50 |
|
Longford |
1.50 |
1.50 |
1.00 |
|
Monaghan |
4.00 |
2.50 |
3.50 |
|
Navan |
2.00 |
3.50 |
3.00 |
|
Nenagh |
4.50 |
12.50 |
11.00 |
|
Newbridge |
9.00 |
20.00 |
17.00 |
|
Portlaoise |
3.00 |
4.00 |
5.00 |
|
Sligo |
10.00 |
12.00 |
1.50 |
|
Tralee |
4.00 |
8.00 |
10.00 |
|
Tullamore |
11.50 |
4.50 |
3.00 |
|
Waterford |
0.75 |
0.50 |
1.00 |
|
Wexford |
0.75 |
3.00 |
8.50 |
|
Wicklow |
11.75 |
22.00 |
16.50 |
