Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 1

Written Answers. - Legal Aid Board Reports.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

67 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice whether he has received the report of the Legal Aid Board for (1) 1987, (2) 1988, (3) 1989 and (4) 1990; whether he plans to publish such reports; the reason such reports have not been published to date; and the reason the board did not utilise all its funding in 1990.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

Under the terms of the civil legal aid scheme, the board's report for 1990 is not due to be submitted to me until 30 September 1991. The earlier reports for the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 have not been submitted to me yet for approval, though I understand that a composite report for those years is almost finalised.

The delay in producing these reports was due to staffing difficulties in the board's head office, particularly in the years 1987 and 1988. As I have already indicated, vacancies in that area have been filled and the backlogs of work are now being cleared.

The board's cash surplus at the end of 1990 is accounted for by the usual carryover expenses in a grant-aided body and by savings on pay accounted for by the slower than anticipated filling of administrative and solicitor posts.