Vol. 530 No. 6
370 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the consultation fees awarded to solicitors for consultation with prisoners in custody both inside and outside of office hours; and the rate of increase in this regard. [4780/01]
The fees payable, under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962 and the regulations made thereunder, to a solicitor assigned to a case in pursuance of a free legal aid certificate for essential visits to prisons and other custodial centres, other than Garda stations, is £73.71 with effect from 1 October 2000. In addition, my Department has implemented the Garda station legal advice scheme on 14 February 2001. This scheme provides that where a person is detained in a Garda station under certain legislation and the person's means are insufficient to enable him-her to pay for a consultation with a solicitor, such consultations will be paid for by the State. Persons who are in receipt of social welfare payments or persons whose earnings are less than £16,000 are eligible to receive assistance under the scheme. The scheme will operate on an administrative basis and will be reviewed after one year. The following fees are paid to solicitors for consultations under the scheme; (a) £73.71 per consultation in a Garda station between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday to Friday; (b) £100.23 per consultation in a Garda station between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m., Monday to Friday and on weekends and bank holidays; (c) £30 per telephone consultation with person detained in a Garda station; (d) travelling expenses are paid at the rate of 60p per mile.
