Vol. 406 No. 1
9 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Justice if he has received an application from the free legal aid centres for additional funding; if it is intended to respond positively to the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have received a submission from FLAC which calls for further expenditure on legal aid.
As I have already explained on a number of occasions, it is the intention to extend the scheme of civil legal aid and advice on a phased basis as scarce financial resources permit. In pursuance of that policy, I obtained the Government's agreement to substantial increases in the grant-in-aid to the Legal Aid Board for 1990 and 1991. The recent increase, which brings the grant to nearly £2.5 million, will enable the board to open further law centres this year.
So long as the State scheme of civil legal aid remains in need of further resources, it seems to me that any funds available to me for legal aid must be devoted to that scheme.
The implication of the Minister's reply is that he has rejected the first ground of the submission from FLAC which is to partly fund the Coolock Law Centre. Is he now telling the House that he has no proposals to aid or assist that centre which, because of the work it does, saves his own scheme a substantial work load on the north side of the city of Dublin?
I fully acknowledge that the Coolock Law Centre are doing an excellent job. It was for this reason that the Minister for Social Welfare, through the Combat Poverty Agency, committed himself to providing funding for the law centre for a period of three years. I recognise that there is need for extra funding for the civil legal aid scheme throughout the country and it was with this in mind that since 1989 I achieved an increase of nearly £1 million in funding for the civil legal aid scheme to enable the Legal Aid Board to open new offices, to extend full-time offices and a number of part-time offices and to employ extra solicitors in providing advice on the new rape legislation. There is a commitment but I am afraid unlimited funding is not available.
Rather than dwell on this matter I urge the Minister to look again at the needs of the Coolock Law Centre in particular because a little extra would go a long distance for that centre. Would he indicate if he has made any proposals to the Legal Aid Board on the way the additional funding should be spent and on where centres might be opened? The Minister is no doubt aware that in their submission FLAC proposed a major new centre for Dublin.
Although not on a statutory footing, it is up to the Legal Aid Board to decide where the centres should be located and how the new money will be spent. At present I am considering a proposal that three new permanent centres should be provided and that some of the temporary centres should be expanded. However, I do not have the final say and it is up to the board to decide where they should open centres.
May I ask a very brief question?
A very brief question, please.
Given that many people in the area are of the view that inadequate funding is being made available for the legal aid scheme, I urge the Minister to redouble his efforts and hope that extra money will be found in the future to ensure the proper development and funding of the legal aid services.
I have already indicated to the Deputy that approximately £1 million extra was provided to the Legal Aid Board in the period 1990 and 1991, bringing the total to £2.5 million. I recognise that this is not sufficient but I also recognise that civil legal aid can be provided in other ways. I am looking at a couple of ideas and I have had discussions with a number of groups. I will speak about this in the future.
