Clare Daly
Question:166. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reports under section 47 of the Family Law Act 1995 that have been ordered in the District Court. [28190/13]
View answerWednesday, 12 June 2013
Questions (166, 167, 168, 169)
Clare Daly
Question:167. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reports under section 47 of the Family Law Act 1995 completed in the District Court and paid for, wholly or partially, by the Legal Aid Board. [28191/13]
View answerClare Daly
Question:168. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reports under section 47 of the Family Law Act 1995 completed in the District Court by Barnardos. [28192/13]
View answerClare Daly
Question:169. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost to the State of all reports under section 47 of the Family Law Act 1995 completed in the District Court by Barnardos. [28193/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 to 169, inclusive, together.
It should be noted that section 47 of the 1995 Family Law Act does not provide for the provision of reports in the District Court. Reports on the welfare of children in proceedings before the District Court are more usually provided under section 20 of the 1991 Child Care Act which provides that the court may direct the HSE to undertake an investigation of the child's circumstances. As the Deputy knows, the Legal Aid Board is a statutory body which is independent in its operation. Nevertheless, I have made enquiries of the Board and I am informed that the Board may fund reports for clients, where appropriate, in certain cases. Although such expenditure is recorded on each case file, it is not feasible to retrieve the information in the form required by the Deputy's question.