Derek McDowell
Ceist:61 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, he has made in addressing the waiting lists in legal aid centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20278/98]
Written Answers. - Legal Aid Service.
In consultation with the Legal Aid Board I continually monitor the position with regard to waiting times at the law centres operated by the Legal Aid Board. I am aware that waiting times in some law centres are continuing to increase, notwithstanding the allocation of significant additional resources to the board. A comparison of waiting times at the board's law centres at June 1997 and September 1998 follows.
The increase in waiting times at the board's law centres is attributable to a significant degree to the continuing increase in the level of demand on the board's services arising from the introduction in recent years of additional family law legislation, including the Domestic Violence Act, 1996, and the Family Law (Divorce) Act, 1996. In the calendar year of 1997, the Legal Aid Board provided legal services to 13,805 people. The number of legal aid cases requiring representation in court increased from 4,460 to 6,021, an increase of 35 per cent over the previous year.
This was the seventh successive year in which there was an increase in the level of service provided by the law centres operated by the Legal Aid Board.
The board operates a policy of providing a priority service in a range of issues which include domestic violence, child care and child abduction. A substantial number of appointments are given each month on a priority basis. For example, 165 of the 910 appointments offered in law centres in September 1998 were for priority matters. None of those accorded priority was put on waiting lists. In the Dublin area, 122 appointments were offered through the private practitioner scheme operated by the Legal Aid Board.
Waiting times are continually reviewed by the board and when, for whatever reason, they become excessive, appropriate remedial action is taken where possible. The board has a number of vacancies for solicitor staff and I am advised that a competition for the recruitment of solicitors for its law centres was held recently and a number of appointments will be made shortly. I will continue to monitor the situation closely and I will give the board every assistance in dealing with problems.
On 25 June 1998, when responding to a Priority Question from Deputy O'Sullivan concerning waiting times, I said that I was optimistic that further resources would be secured for the Legal Aid Board to enable it to meet with the ever increasing demands on its services. Subsequently, in July 1998, I approved 25 additional posts for the Legal Aid Board. Of these, 17 posts, including five solicitor posts, are for the law centres. In addition, I sanctioned the making permanent of six temporary staff in the law centres, three relief solicitors and three clerical officers, and the engagement on a temporary basis of a librarian for head office. I am confident that these additional staff will be allocated by the Legal Aid Board in such a manner as to make the greatest impact on waiting times at the board's law centres.
Waiting Times at Law Centres
Position as at the 30 June 1997 and 30 September 1998 (expressed in months)
|
Law Centre |
June 1997 |
September 1998 |
|
Athlone |
4 |
14 |
|
Castlebar |
0.5 |
0.0 |
|
Cavan |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Popes Quay |
4.75 |
16 |
|
South Mall |
5.5 |
19.5 |
|
Blanchardstown |
4.5 |
3.5 |
|
Clondalkin |
8.25 |
13.75 |
|
Finglas |
3.25 |
4 |
|
Gardiner Street |
7.75 |
8.25 |
|
Mount Street |
6.75 |
10 |
|
Ormond Quay |
3.5 |
3.5 |
|
Tallaght |
4 |
15 |
|
Dundalk |
3 |
6.75 |
|
Ennis |
4.75 |
5.75 |
|
Galway |
4.5 |
17.75 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
1.25 |
|
Letterkenny |
2.75 |
4.25 |
|
Limerick |
3.75 |
8 |
|
Longford |
1.75 |
0.75 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
5.5 |
|
Navan |
0.0 |
3.75 |
|
Nenagh |
5.25 |
9.5 |
|
Newbridge |
12 |
17.25 |
|
Portlaoise |
2.25 |
3 |
|
Sligo |
5.5 |
12.5 |
|
Tralee |
4 |
6 |
|
Tullamore |
8.75 |
3 |
|
Waterford |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
9.75 |
19 |