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Legal Aid

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022

Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Questions (617)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

617. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a schedule of the current premises owned and leased by the Legal Aid Board; the overall cost of each lease and the duration of same; and if the Legal Aid Board requires her permission in order to enter a new lease agreement and or purchase. [4988/22]

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Written answers

The Legal Aid Board provides legal advice and aid under the relevant terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2017. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions.

The acquisition of premises is an operational matter for the Legal Aid Board under such terms, whether leasehold or otherwise, as it may consider appropriate to its functions.

However, to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have asked the Legal Aid Board to provide a schedule of premises that are owned and leased by it. I am advised by the Board that it does not own any property. The Board rents properties at locations throughout the country for the delivery of its civil legal aid and mediation services to the public. Some of these property rentals are the subject of a lease agreement, and a schedule of the leased properties is shown in the table below. Lease agreements typically include at least one break clause, which provide some flexibility should the Board’s property needs change over the duration of a lease.

Section 3 (2) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 states that the Legal Aid Board shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and an official seal and power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and, with the consent of the Minister, to acquire, hold and dispose of land or an interest in land or rights over or in respect of land and to acquire, hold and dispose of any other property.

Legal Aid Board leased property

Location

Usage

Name

Status

Expiry Date

Length of lease (years)

Rent

Limerick

Co-Location

1st Floor, Riverpoint, Lower Mallow Street, Limerick

Leased

09/09/2046

25

€57,810

Newbridge

Law Centre

Suites 1/2 Courtyard House, The Courtyard Shopping Centre, Newbridge, Kildare

Leased

30/09/2041

20

€61,992

Sligo

Co-Location

Bridgewater House, Rockwood Parade,Thomas St, Sligo

Leased

12/09/2041

20

€75,000

Ennis

Law Centre

Station Road, Ennis

Leased

01/09/2039

20

€34,262

Letterkenny

Co-Location

Fort Lynne, Letterkenny

Leased

31/12/2038

20

€55,000

Portlaoise

Co- Location

Unit 261, Gannon Court, Portlaoise

Leased

24/10/2038

20

€30,966

Navan

Law Centre

Kennedy Road, Navan, Co. Meath

Leased

30/09/2038

20

€41,000

Tallaght

Co- Location

Village Green, Tallaght, Dublin 24

Leased

09/10/2036

20

€72,138

Tullamore

Law Centre

Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly

Leased

30/09/2036

20

€13,800

Longford

Law Centre

Market Street, Longford

Leased

24/11/2035

20

€26,000

Monaghan

Law Centre

Alma House, The Diamond, Monaghan

Leased

30/10/2035

20

€22,100

Wicklow

Law Centre

Floor 3, Block D, Civic Offices, Bray, Co Wicklow

Leased

20/07/2034

20

€58,878

Jervis Street

Co-Location

Jervis Street, Dublin 1

Leased

31/03/2031

15

€177,674

Waterford

Mediation Centre

13B Wallace House, Maritana Gate, Canada Street, Waterford

Leased

31/01/2031

9 yrs 11 mths

€28,000

Redmond Square

Mediation Centre

Unit 8, Redmond Square, Wexford

Leased

31/05/2028

33

€25,000

Galway

Law Centre

Seville House, New Dock Street, Galway

Leased

31/12/2026

10

€60,000

Athlone

Mediation Centre

Suite 10, 1st Floor, Inish Carraig Business Centre, Golden Island, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

Leased

30/04/2026

10

€30,000

Limerick

Former Law Centre (sub-let)

Unit F, Lock Quay, Limerick

Leased

12/03/2026

35

€34,776

Wexford

Law Centre

Slaney Street, Wexford

Leased

28/02/2026

10

€22,500

Brunswick Street

Law Centre / administrative offices

48/49 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7

Leased

31/01/2026

25

€685,487

Cork North

Law Centre

North Quay House, 2nd. Floor, Popes Quay, Cork

Leased

31/08/2025

30

€75,180

Montague Court

Law Centre / Library

Montague Street, Dublin 2

Leased

22/08/2024

25

€434,000

Tralee

Mediation Centre

Unit 2, Market Place, Maine Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Leased

05/02/2024

10

€18,450

Kilkenny

Law Centre

Unit 1A, First floor, Smithlands Centre, Loughboy, Kilkenny

Leased

15/01/2024

10

€34,973

Castlebar

Law Centre

Humbert Hall, Main Street, Castlebar Co, Mayo

Leased

03/03/2023

15

€36,000

Waterford

Law Centre

Suite 9/10 Station House, Railway Square, Waterford

Leased

25/01/2042

20

€39,000

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