Vol. 547 No. 1
957 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total sum paid to solicitors and barristers under the free legal aid scheme and all other associated schemes in 2000 and 2001; the persons who received payments; and the amount in each case. [1822/02]
I can inform the Deputy that the details requested in relation to civil and criminal legal aid are too extensive, involving some 225 pages in all, for inclusion on the normal electronic system for replying to parliamentary questions. I have, however, made arrangements to have the information delivered to the Deputy in manuscript form on today's date.
958 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount paid in legal fees by his Department in 1999, 2000 and 2001; the person or organisations who received a payment; and the amount of payment in each case. [1842/02]
The vast bulk of expenditure in respect of legal expenses paid by my Department falls under the criminal and civil legal aid schemes, details of which are provided to the Deputy on foot of Parliamentary Question Ref. No. 1822/02. By comparison, all other legal fees are not significant and, indeed, are not recorded by my Department in the format requested by the Deputy. In the circumstances, I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that the additional information could only be compiled by diverting staff resources from other important work which, in my view, would not be justified by the quantity of information involved.
