Pa Daly
Question:148. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the current budget for the family law legal aid panel. [28600/24]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2024
148. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the current budget for the family law legal aid panel. [28600/24]
View answerThe Legal Aid Board 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 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021.
The Board engages private solicitors to supplement the services provided by Board solicitors in certain areas of law on a case-by-case basis. These areas include District Court family law matters, Circuit Court judicial separation and divorce cases, public law child care matters, international protection cases, cases under the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act, coroners inquests, and cases on foot of the Abhaile scheme.
I have been informed by the Board that the 2024 budgets for the Family Law Legal Aid panels are as follows:
District Court Private Family Law: This panel covers matters in the District Court and on appeal to the Circuit Court under the Domestic Violence Act 2018, the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 and the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976. The budget for 2024 is €2,500,000.
Judicial Separation and Divorce: This panel covers judicial separation and divorce proceedings in the Circuit Court. A limited number of referrals are made to this panel each year. The budget for 2024 is €500,000.