I am continually monitoring the position with regard to waiting times at law centres, in consultation with the Legal Aid Board and I am aware that waiting lists in some law centres have increased as a result of the introduction in recent years of additional family law legislation including the Domestic Violence Act, 1996 and the Family Law (Divorce) Act, 1996.
The Legal Aid Board continuously monitors demand in all law centres and, where appropriate, prioritises certain cases which would fall into the family law category. An emergency service (i. e. cases in which applicants are not placed on waiting lists) is provided in cases where there is a real danger to children being taken out of the jurisdiction without the consent of the applicant, and in proceedings under the Domestic Violence Act, 1996, proceedings under the Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act, 1991 and for the defence of child care proceedings under the Child Care Act, 1991.