Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 May 2017
47. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce a system to ensure victims of domestic violence get priority access to legal advice and legal aid. [21151/17]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the Legal Aid Board’s current policy is to ensure that victims of domestic violence receive a priority service at all times and have a minimal wait to receive legal advice and/or aid.
Among the matters for which the Board provides legal services are applications for domestic violence remedies (barring orders, safety orders, interim barring orders and protection orders). Applicants must make an application for legal services at a Legal Aid Board law centre. If the Board does not have a law centre solicitor available, a legal aid certificate will be granted to enable the applicant seek representation by a private solicitor.
In practice, nearly all eligible applicants for legal services in the Dublin Metropolitan District Court in connection with domestic violence remedies, are referred to the Dolphin House office and are referred to a private solicitor. Outside Dublin eligible applicants will be offered the next available priority appointment with a law centre solicitor. If a solicitor is not available, a legal aid certificate will be granted to enable the applicant seek representation by a private solicitor.
