Vol. 526 No. 3
370 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to adjust the means limit of £7,350 of disposable income used to determine eligibility for civil legal aid; when this limit was last changed; and the percentage increase in average wages since that limit was set. [26623/00]
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is at present carrying out a review of the criteria used to determine financial eligibility for services under the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995. The review is being conducted in consultation with the Legal Aid Board. I expect to be in a position to make a statement on the matter shortly.
I would point out to the Deputy that the financial criteria are monitored on a continual basis in my Department to ensure that people of modest means continue to have access to legal services. The last occasion when a formal review of financial criteria occurred was in 1995.
I am informed by the Central Statistics Office that the most up to date figures available at present only cover up to the end of December 1999. During the period from September 1995 until the end of December 1999, average industrial earnings increased by 19.6%. These figures must, however, also take into account the reductions in income tax liabilities which have occurred in the interim.
