Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 1

Written Answers. - Legal Aid Service.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

251 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will have examinations made into the claim that the free legal aid services in the County Carlow area are inadequate; if, in view of the figures which show the demand for legal assistance has doubled since 1999, he will take the appropriate steps to provide a designated free legal aid service in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26042/00]

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

The Deputy will be aware that under section 30 of the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995, the Legal Aid Board has sole responsibility for the provision of legal services, including the location of law centres. The Deputy will appreciate that, under the legislation, I am precluded from directing the board in matters of this nature.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Legal Aid Board currently operates a part-time law centre in Carlow. The centre is operated by the staff of the law centre in Kilkenny, which includes two solicitors.

I am informed by the Legal Aid Board that the waiting time for an appointment with a solicitor in Carlow in October 2000 was seven months, the same as in Kilkenny. I am further informed by the Legal Aid Board that the number of applicants on the waiting lists at the end of October in Carlow and Kilkenny were 81 and 76 respectively.

I should also mention that, in relation to those applicants waiting for legal services, the board operates a procedure whereby priority is accorded for certain categories of cases over other cases, for example, domestic violence, child care, child abduction and cases where there are time limits. In these cases the application is dealt with immediately.

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 and this was extended on a nation-wide basis earlier this year. This scheme provides legal services in certain family law matters in the District Court namely, domestic violence, maintenance and custody/access. 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 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 is being kept under continual review.

I can also inform the Deputy that the Legal Aid Board is currently reviewing the allocation of its staff resources to deal with the respective needs of the law centres and that the question of assigning an additional solicitor to Kilkenny is under consideration.