Pat Rabbitte
Question:446 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting period for access to the different free legal aid centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23869/01]
Written Answers. - Legal Aid Service.
I can inform the Deputy that the Legal Aid Board does not routinely record information relating to an average waiting time for people seeking a consultation with a solicitor. I should mention that, in relation to applicants waiting for legal services, the board operates a procedure whereby priority is accorded for certain categories of cases over other cases, for example, domestic violence, child care, child abduction and cases where there are time limits. In these cases the application is dealt with immediately. The board does, however, record the length of time the person longest on the waiting list has waited and the following tabular statement shows the average longest waiting time in months at each of the board's law centres for those seeking the boards' services.
The longest waiting time for an appointment with a solicitor at 31 August, 2001
|
Law Centre |
Waiting time in months |
|
Athlone |
1.25 |
|
Castlebar |
1.75 |
|
Cavan |
0.25 |
|
Popes Quay |
3.00 |
|
South Mall |
6.00 |
|
Blanchardstown |
6.50 |
|
Clondalkin |
3.75 |
|
Finglas |
6.00 |
|
Law Centre |
Waiting time in months |
|
Gardiner Street |
9.75 |
|
Mount Street |
5.5 |
|
Ormond Quay |
1.00 |
|
Tallaght |
2.75 |
|
Dundalk |
1.50 |
|
Ennis |
1.50 |
|
Galway |
2.75 |
|
Kilkenny |
6.25 |
|
Letterkenny |
5.50 |
|
Limerick |
0.75 |
|
Longford |
0.00 |
|
Monaghan |
1.50 |
|
Navan |
1.25 |
|
Nenagh |
3.75 |
|
Newbridge |
3.00 |
|
Portlaoise |
0.25 |
|
Sligo |
1.75 |
|
Tralee |
7.00 |
|
Tullamore |
1.50 |
|
Waterford |
1.00 |
|
Wexford |
2.75 |
|
Wicklow |
4.50 |
447.Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the new income guidelines regarding qualification for free legal aid will come into effect; if he will set out the new guidelines; the allowances which will be retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23870/01]
The Deputy will be aware that a review of the income criteria used to determine eligibility under the Civil Legal Aid Regulations, 1996, was carried out in my Department earlier this year. A review of the criteria used to determine disposable capital in the Civil Legal Aid Regulations, 1996, has now also been completed in my Department and my Department is in the process of preparing a statutory instrument which will incorporate the revised criteria under both headings.