asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the funding being provided to the Free Legal Aid Centres in Mullingar and Athlone, County Westmeath have proven totally inadequate to provide a necessary basic service for these areas; if he will make arrangements to provide increased adequate funding to the law centres concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Westmeath Legal Aid Centres.
109.
The Law Centre operated by the Legal Aid Board at Athlone is one of four full-time Law Centres opened in the period 1985 to 1987 under a provision for civil legal aid in the Funds of Suitors Act, 1984. The Law Centre in Mullingar is a parttime centre, which is serviced from the Athlone Centre on the second Wednesday of each month.
The Legal Aid Board have informed me that the current waiting period to see a solicitor at the Athlone Centre is three weeks. There is no waiting period at the Mullingar Centre. I do not think that this represents an inadequate level of service at these centres.