Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
792. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the waiting times for civil legal aid services from 2007 to 2012 in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1407/13]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that I have no function or responsibility in relation to the matter raised. Under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as passed by the Oireachtas, the Legal Aid Board is independent in the operation of its functions and decisions on individual cases are a matter for the Board. However, to be of assistance I have contacted the Legal Aid Board for the information requested by the Deputy.
I am informed that the maximum waiting times for civil legal aid services, as provided by the Legal Aid Board, at the end of the year for each of the years 2007 to 2012 are as set out in the table. The increase in waiting times evident in the table has been brought about primarily by the huge increase in demand for the Board’s services since the economic downturn. As the provision of civil legal aid services are means tested, a much greater number of persons are now financially eligible than had been the case in 2007.
Law Centre Waiting Times (in months) at the end of Each Year (2007-2012)
|
LAW CENTRE |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Blanchardstown |
4 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
|
Brunswick St. |
3 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
7 |
|
Clondalkin |
2 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
|
Finglas |
1 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
10 |
|
Gardiner St. |
3 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
13 |
|
Medical Negligence |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
3 |
4 |
6 |
|
Tallaght |
4 |
3 |
3 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
|
Popes Quay, Cork |
4 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
8 |
|
South Mall, Cork |
3 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
10 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
|
Clare - Ennis |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
12 |
|
Donegal - Letterkenny |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
|
Galway |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
9 |
|
Kerry - Tralee |
2 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
|
Kildare - Newbridge |
2 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
13 |
|
Laois - Portlaoise |
4 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
7 |
17 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
|
Longford |
1 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
11 |
|
Louth - Dundalk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
Mayo - Castlebar |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
|
Meath - Navan |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
|
Offaly - Tullamore |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
|
Tipperary - Nenagh |
3 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
5 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
7 |
|
Westmeath - Athlone |
2 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
10 |
|
Wexford |
6 |
4 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
3 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
15 |
