Vol. 406 No. 1
71 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice his views on whether the employment and location of a second solicitor in the Legal Aid Law Centres at Athlone, Sligo and Tralee, to assist the existing sole solicitor in clearing work backlogs, would be more cost effective than the opening of a further three, one solicitor, law centres which will undoubtedly become equally backlogged with work within a short period.
72 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice if the Free Legal Aid Centres at Sligo, Athlone and Tralee have the facilities in office space for the location of a second solicitor.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
The Legal Aid Board have submitted proposals to me for additional law centres at particular locations, rather than for an increase in its solicitors staffing at existing law centres. I am in agreement that that is the best way to expand the legal aid service at present.
I am informed by the board that the law centres at Sligo, Athlone and Tralee can accommodate additional solicitor staff.
73 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice the plans he has to encourage solicitors to apply for positions with the Legal Aid Board in view of the board's inability to fill its present quota of 35 solicitors over the past 15 months; and whether such measures will apply to the additional three solicitor vacancies arising out of the three new centres as outlined by him on 12 February 1991.
74 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the chairman of the Legal Aid Board informed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Women's Rights on 4 October 1990 that the board had a present quota of 35 solicitors but had only managed to fill 33 of these places; and that the Legal Aid Board advertised on two occasions during 1990 to fill these vacancies without success.
I propose to take Question Nos. 73 and 74 together.
The Legal Aid Board are no different from any other employer of solicitors and they experience difficulties from time to time in obtaining suitable legal personnel, particularly in areas outside Dublin. I am not aware that this is a serious problem for the board and I do not foresee that the recruitment of the extra solicitors this year which has been authorised by the Government will be impeded.
