Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 5

Written Answers - Legal Aid Service.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

169 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will sanction the appointment of a third solicitor to the Law Centre in Wexford in order to reduce the waiting time for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11113/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The Deputy will be aware that under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995, the Legal Aid Board has sole responsibility for the provision of legal services, including the allocation of staff to law centres. I am advised by the board that a substantial number of applicants to Wexford Law Centre received appointments without being placed on a waiting list.

The Deputy will be aware that the board operates a case management system whereby priority status is awarded to cases where the safety of one partner and/or children may be a factor, such as barring, and cases where time limits are in operation. Persons seeking services in such cases are not placed on the waiting list.

The Deputy will also be aware that the private practitioner scheme for certain District Court cases which the board operated on a pilot basis in the Dublin area was extended on a country-wide basis in May 2000. I can inform the Deputy that I recently secured sanction from my colleague, the Minister for Finance, to significantly improve the fees available to solicitors who participate in the scheme and also to extend the scope of the scheme to include cases in the Circuit Court. I understand that the board proposes to operate the scheme on a pilot basis initially at selected law centres throughout the country and that Wexford is one of the centres that has been selected by the board for this purpose. I would expect that this development will have a positive effect on waiting times at that centre.

In this context, I am advised by the board that it has no plans at present to assign an additional solicitor to Wexford Law Centre, however, I am assured by the board that the situation will be kept under review in the light of future demand for legal services in the area.