Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2023
176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which her Department funds or supports, in any way, the courts system with particular reference to pay and conditions; the extent to which issues have arisen in this regard in recent times; her proposals to address such issues by way of legislation or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44457/23]
View answerI understand the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to barrister's pay in his question.
I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice – both in the context of working to defend those accused and working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions.
I can assure the Deputy that the issue of criminal legal aid fees has been a priority for my Department, and I am pleased to have secured funding of €9m to make progress in increasing the fees payable to legal professionals for criminal legal aid by 10% in early 2024. In conjunction with the increase in fees, the intention is to build on the strengths of the criminal legal aid scheme while addressing any issues relating to how it is structured.
Civil legal aid and advice for qualifying individuals is granted through the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, which the Legal Aid Board administers. The matter of resource allocation is an operational matter entirely for the Legal Aid Board which is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995.
