Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 6

Written Answers. - Legal Aid Service.

Dick Spring

Question:

86 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to reduce waiting time for consultation with a solicitor at each of the legal aid centres; the progress made to date regarding financial eligibility under the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15016/01]

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.

The Deputy will also be aware that, in order to combat the problems being experienced in relation to waiting times in law centres, I made additional resources available to the Legal Aid Board this year when I increased the allocation of grant aid to £13.7 million. This represents an increase of 6.21% on the 2000 allocation.

I am advised that the board is at present engaged in a recruitment campaign to fill all solicitor vacancies throughout its law centre network. As regards the recruitment of solicitors, the Deputy will be aware that there is a huge buoyancy in the Irish economy at present and employment opportunities for law graduates are now far more extensive than has hitherto been the case. In this context, the Legal Aid Board, in common with employers generally, has to compete for candidates in an increasingly competitive market in order to fill vacancies.

Furthermore, I understand from the board that a review of practices and procedures in law centres is being undertaken to seek to improve efficiency. The board considers that this review will lead to an increase in the throughput of cases and the provision of services to a greater number of persons. I should also mention to the Deputy that the Legal Aid Board operates a private practitioner scheme. Under this scheme applicants are given the option of either going to a private solicitor of their choice from the panel of private practitioners or of having their names added to the waiting list at the law centre.

I can inform the Deputy that I recently obtained sanction from my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Charlie McCreevy, to extend the scope of the private practitioners scheme to include cases in the Circuit Court. The Deputy will be aware that this scheme previously covered certain cases in the District Court, and was extended on a nationwide basis in May 2000. I expect that this initiative will be of considerable assistance to the board in its efforts to provide legal services to applicants within a reasonable amount of time. I might add that the sanction also provides for an increase in fees, which will make this scheme more attractive to private solicitors.

In relation to those applicants waiting for legal services, I should point out to the Deputy that the board operates a procedure whereby priority is accorded for certain categories of cases over other cases, for example, domestic violence, child care and cases where there are time limits. These cases are dealt with immediately. In 2000, approximately 27% of the board's clients received appointments immediately.

The following tabular statement shows the longest waiting times in April 2000 and April 2001 at each of the law centres.

Law Centre	Longest waitingtime in monthsApril, 2000	Longest waitingtime in monthsApril, 2001
Athlone	1	0.5
Castlebar	1	1
Cavan	7	1
Popes Quay, Cork	7	4
South Mall, Cork	6	6
Dundalk	7	2
Ennis	2	5
Galway	2	2
Kilkenny	8.5	5.5
Letterkenny	3	3.5
Limerick	8	2
Longford	2	0
Monaghan	6	4
Navan	2	1
Nenagh	5	6.5
Newbridge	9.5	3
Portlaoise	5	1
Sligo	2.5	2
Tralee	15	5
Tullamore	8	1.5
Waterford	1.5	1.5
Wexford	11	7.35
Wicklow	6.5	3
Blanchardstown	3	5.5
Clondalkin	3.5	6.5
Finglas	3.5	13
Gardiner Street	6	7
Law Centre	Longest waitingtime in monthsApril, 2000	Longest waitingtime in monthsApril, 2001
Mount Street	1	3
Ormond Quay	11	1
Tallaght	6.5	13.5

I can also inform the Deputy that the criteria used to determine financial eligibility under the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995 is at present being reviewed by my Department. This review is being carried out in consultation with the Legal Aid Board.