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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 4 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 2

Written Answers. - Legal Aid Board.

Seán Doherty

Seán Doherty

Seán Doherty

Ceist:

129 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of solicitors employed by the Legal Aid Board; the numbers in each grade; and the grading system and the salaries applicable to each grade. [21778/97]

Seán Doherty

Seán Doherty

Seán Doherty

Ceist:

130 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the expenditure by the Legal Aid Board per centre in each of the years 1995 and 1996, setting out the remuneration of solicitor staff as a separate item. [21780/97]

Seán Doherty

Seán Doherty

Seán Doherty

Ceist:

131 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the staffing level of each law centre in relation to the number of solicitors, law clerks and ancillary staff for each of the years from 1994 to 1996. [21781/97]

John O'Donoghue

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 131, inclusive, together.

The number of solicitors employed by the Legal Aid Board on 1 December 1997 was 81, comprising nine grade C, principal, solicitors, 32 grade B, senior assistant, solicitors and 40 grade A, assistant, solicitors.

Details of the approximate expenditure for 1995 and 1996 in respect of each law centre operated by the Legal Aid Board and the salaries applicable to each grade of solicitor employed by the board, together with the staffing details of the board's law centres for each of the years from 1994 to 1996 are set out in the following tabular statements which I propose to have circulated in the Official Report.

Different salary scales are applicable to solicitor staff appointed on or after 6 April 1995. The salary rates applicable to solicitor staff appointed on or after that date are higher than those applicable to solicitor staff appointed at an earlier date. This differential is related to the requirement that the former pay the class A rate of PRSI contribution and make an employee contribution in respect of personal superannuation benefits, whereas the latter pay a reduced rate of PRSI contribution and make no employee contribution in respect of personal superannuation benefits.
I would draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that the law centres at Navan and Cavan opened in the latter part of 1996 and the law centres at Newbridge and Tullamore opened in 1997.
Legal Aid Board
Expenditure by Law Centre (a) in 1995 and (b) in 1996
(a) Expenditure per Centre in 1995

Law Centre

Solicitors' Salaries

Other Expenditure

Total Expenditure

Ormond Quay

172,158

198,686

370,844

Gardiner Street

177,718

228,436

406,154

Tallaght

108,363

168,878

277,241

Clondalkin

124,183

160,262

284,445

Finglas

80,519

130,868

211,387

Athlone

57,362

100,497

157,859

Castlebar

58,100

73,616

131,716

Cork North

109,435

169,839

279,274

Cork South

109,748

192,827

302,575

Dundalk

44,753

78,332

123,085

Galway

104,590

104,656

209,246

Letterkenny

50,586

56,142

106,728

Limerick

64,288

108,009

172,297

Sligo

43,899

53,314

97,213

Tralee

56,447

71,871

128,318

Waterford

90,678

71,467

162,145

Nenagh

36,497

47,186

83,683

Longford

27,927

44,118

72,045

Kilkenny

33,101

53,187

86,288

Portlaoise

40,029

90,412

130,441

Blanchardstown

63,644

120,875

184,519

Wicklow

32,813

59,566

92,379

Monaghan

27,348

69,702

97,050

Wexford

3,187

56,630

59,817¹

Ennis

27,714

121,016

148,730

Mount Street

126,724

211,174

337,898
¹ This centre opened in late 1995.
(b) Expenditure per Centre in 1996

Law Centre

Solicitors' Salaries

Other Expenditure

Total Expenditure

Ormond Quay

162,318

258,880

421,198

Gardiner Street

186,431

248,396

434,827

Tallaght

102,757

164,437

267,194

Clondalkin

120,657

169,537

290,194

Finglas

106,393

156,858

263,251

Athlone

57,996

100,178

158,174

Castlebar

55,181

83,858

139,039

Cork North

107,478

378,516

485,994

Cork South

115,721

168,079

283,800

Dundalk

52,540

79,724

132,264

Galway

106,414

128,039

234,453

Letterkenny

56,737

97,140

153,877

Limerick

69,138

114,219

183,357

Sligo

32,767

54,859

87,626

Tralee

51,559

78,488

130,047

Waterford

68,139

76,853

144,992

Nenagh

49,557

85,676

135,233

Longford

25,110

66,071

91,181

Kilkenny

49,989

77,274

127,263

Portlaoise

48,645

69,149

117,794

Blanchardstown

82,715

124,090

206,805

Wicklow

58,480

58,521

117,001

Monaghan

28,445

108,247

136,692

Wexford

52,224

116,985

169,209

Ennis

48,913

78,002

126,915

Mount Street

127,870

230,290

358,160

Navan

6,555

78,235

84,790¹

Newbridge

0

49,740

49,740²

Cavan

3,208

49,977

53,185¹

Tullamore

0

33,268

33,268²
¹ These two centres opened at the end of 1996.
² These two centres opened in early 1997.
Legal Aid Board Law Centres
Schedule of Staff by Law Centre as on 31 December 1994

Centre

Solicitor Staff

Law Clerk Staff

Clerical Staff

Total Staff

Athlone

2

2

4

Blanchardstown

2

0

2

Castlebar

2

2

4

Clondalkin

4

4

8

Cork North

3

3

6

Cork South

4

4

8

Dundalk

2

2

4

Finglas

3

3

6

Galway

4

4

8

Gardiner Street

6

6

12

Kilkenny

1

1

2

Letterkenny

2

2

4

Limerick

4

5

9

Longford

1

1

2

Monaghan

1

0

1

Mount Street

4

0

4

Nenagh

1

1

2

Ormond Quay

6

6

12

Portlaoise

1

1

2

Sligo

1

1

2

Tallaght

4

4

8

Tralee

2

3

5

Waterford

4

3

7

Wicklow

1

2

3

Total Law Centre Staff

65

0

60

125
Legal Aid Board Law Centres
Schedule of Staff by Law Centre as on 31 December 1995

Centre

Solicitor Staff

Law Clerk Staff

Clerical Staff

Total Staff

Athlone

2

1

2

5

Blanchardstown

3

1

3

7

Castlebar

2

1

2

5

Clondalkin

4

1

4

9

Cork North

4

1

4

9

Cork South

4

1

4

9

Dundalk

2

1

2

5

Ennis

2

1

2

5

Finglas

4

1

4

9

Galway

4

1

4

9

Gardiner Street

6

1

5

12

Kilkenny

2

1

2

5

Letterkenny

2

1

2

5

Limerick

3

1

3

7

Longford

1

1

1

3

Monaghan

1

1

1

3

Mount Street

5

1

6

12

Nenagh

2

1

2

5

Ormond Quay

6

1

5

12

Portlaoise

2

1

2

5

Sligo

1

1

1

3

Tallaght

4

1

4

9

Tralee

2

1

2

5

Waterford

3

1

3

7

Wexford

2

1

2

5

Wicklow

2

1

2

5

Total Law Centre Staff

75

26

74

175
Legal Aid Board Law Centres
Schedule of Staff by Law Centre as on 31 December 1996

Centre

Solicitor Staff

Law Clerk Staff

Clerical Staff

Total Staff

Athlone

2

1

2

5

Blanchardstown

3

1

3

7

Castlebar

2

1

2

5

Cavan

1

1

1

3

Clondalkin

4

1

4

9

Cork North

4

1

5

10

Cork South

4

1

4

9

Dundalk

2

1

2

5

Ennis

2

1

2

5

Finglas

4

1

4

9

Galway

4

1

4

9

Gardiner Street

6

1

6

13

Kilkenny

2

1

2

5

Letterkenny

3

1

3

7

Limerick

3

1

3

7

Longford

1

1

1

3

Monaghan

1

1

1

3

Mount Street

4

1

4

9

Navan

2

1

2

5

Nenagh

2

1

2

5

Newbridge

1

1

1

3

Ormond Quay

6

1

6

13

Portlaoise

2

1

2

5

Sligo

1

1

1

3

Tallaght

4

1

4

9

Tralee

3

1

3

7

Tullamore

1

1

1

3

Waterford

3

1

3

7

Wexford

2

1

2

5

Wicklow

2

1

2

5

Total Law Centre Staff

81

30

82

193
Legal Aid Board
Solicitors' Salaries
The range of the scales currently applicable to solicitors in the employment of the Legal Aid Board are as follows:

Grade

Salary Scale

Grade C (Principal) Solicitor, appointed after 5 April 1995

A 5 point scale ranging from £38,432 at the minimum to £44,930 at the maximum

Grade C (Principal) Solicitor, appointed before 6 April 1995

A 5 point scale ranging from £36,524 at the minimum to £42,697 at the maximum

Grade B (Senior Assistant) Solicitor, appointed after 5 April 1995

A 6 point scale ranging from £28,686 at the minimum to £34,181 at the maximum

Grade B (Senior Assistant) Solicitor, appointed before 6 April 1995

A 6 point scale ranging from £27,438 at the minimum to £32,486 at the maximum

Grade A (Assistant) Solicitor, appointed after 5 April 1995

A 7 point scale ranging from £15,371 at the minimum to £25,127 at the maximum

Grade A (Assistant) Solicitor, appointed before 6 April 1995

A 7 point scale ranging from £14,614 at the minimum to £23,885 at the maximum
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