Vol. 573 No. 3
584 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of the sub- head office retained by the Legal Aid Board in Dublin; the number employed at this office; the cost of this office; the cost of travel expenses between the Dublin and Caherciveen head offices; and if he is considering changing the current arrangements. [25178/03]
I can inform the Deputy that the rent for the Legal Aid Board's office at Montague Street is €151,000 per annum. Eleven Legal Aid Board staff are located at this office. The cost for staff travelling between Dublin and Cahirciveen during 2003 to date was €16,775, inclusive of travelling expenses and subsistence allowance.
The Deputy will be aware that over half of the board's staff are, of necessity, based in Dublin. This includes over 100 members of staff, including 19 solicitors, employed in the Refugee Legal Service and staff employed throughout the Dublin law centre network, of whom 26 are solicitors. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that management staff located at the board's offices in Montague Street have a management function in relation to these staff, including some personnel, recruitment and IT functions as well as providing a co-ordination function with the staff unions and such bodies as the Bar Council and the Law Society, which are also Dublin based. I have no plans to alter the present arrangement with regard to the Legal Aid Board's head office.
585 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is considering changes to the provision of services by the Legal Aid Board to suburban centres at Blanchardstown, Tallaght and Finglas. [25179/03]
The Deputy may be aware that under the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996, the Legal Aid Board has sole responsibility for deciding on the provision of service to clients, including the location of law centres. I can inform the Deputy that the board, as part of its remit, constantly monitors the operation of its law centre network, including the location of law centres, with a view to ensuring that its services are available to the greatest number of people from within its available resources. As part of this process, I understand that the board is examining the possible benefits of relocating some or all of its suburban law centres in Dublin to locations in the city centre, to bring them closer to the courts.
