Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Vol. 518 No. 6

Written Answers. - Legal Aid Service.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

492 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the waiting list for the legal aid service in County Carlow; the action he will take to reduce the waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12891/00]

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

I have been informed by the Legal Aid Board that it currently operates a full-time law centre in Kilkenny and a part-time law centre in Carlow. I understand that the part-time law centre operates on the first and third Friday of every month from St. Catherine's social services centre and is staffed from the Kilkenny law centre. The waiting time for an appointment with a solicitor at the Carlow part-time centre in March 2000 was five months.

The Deputy will be aware that, in order to combat the problems being experienced in relation to waiting times, I made additional resources available to the Legal Aid Board for this year.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Legal Aid Board has operated a private practitioners scheme in the Dublin area on a pilot basis for some years. I understand that the board is currently proceeding with the nationwide extension of a private practitioners panel to provide legal services in domestic violence, maintenance and custody/access issues in the District Court. This scheme, while increasing the services provided by the board, should also enable the law centres to devote more resources to non-District Court matters and should help to reduce waiting times in law centres, including the Carlow part-time centre.

I should also mention to the Deputy that where waiting times, for whatever reason, become excessive the position is examined by the board with a view to taking remedial action.

I have been informed by the Legal Aid Board that there are no plans at present to open a full-time law centre in Carlow. However, I can assure the Deputy that this matter will be kept under continual review.