Vol. 520 No. 1
342 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that the present two day per month legal aid service provided to the Carlow area by the Kilkenny Law Centre is sufficient; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that clients in the Carlow region can wait up to six months for an appointment; and if he will consider extending the service based in Kilkenny to Carlow for a number of days each week. [14979/00]
353 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will extend the services of Kilkenny Law Centre to a location in Carlow for a number of days each week in view of the backlog and length of time people spend on the waiting list; his views on whether the service in Carlow for two days per month is insufficient; the number of cases dealt with in Kilkenny; the number on the waiting list; if he will give similar information for Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15232/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 353 together.
I refer the Deputies to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 492 on 10 May 2000.
I have been informed by the Legal Aid Board that the waiting time for an appointment with a solicitor at the Carlow part-time centre in April 2000 was four and a half months compared to five months in March 2000. I have been further informed by the Legal Aid Board that the closing number on the waiting list in respect of Kilkenny Law Centre and Carlow part-time centre at the end of April 2000 was 85 and 51 respectively. The number of appointments offered by Kilkenny and Carlow for the period January 1997 to April 2000 was 673 and 457 respectively.
Waiting times are continually reviewed by the board and where waiting times, for whatever reason, become excessive the position is examined by the board with a view to taking remedial action where necessary.
