The Deputy will be aware that under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995, the Legal Aid Board has sole responsibility for the provision of legal services, including the allocation of staff to particular law centres. I am advised that the additional staff resources which I obtained for the board since 1997 were assigned by the board to law centres and the refugee legal service as set out in the following tabular statement.
During 2000, sanction was conveyed to the board for the recruitment of an additional 112 staff for the refugee legal service and, as suitable accommodation is now ready, recruitment to fill these posts is taking place.