Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
34 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to address unacceptably long waiting lists for appointments at Legal Aid centres; the average waiting time for an appointment with a solicitor at the centres; the longest waiting time at any particular centre; his views on whether such waiting times are acceptable; and the additional funding which has been provided to reduce waiting times. [20721/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Legal Aid Board does not routinely collect information relating to an average waiting time for people seeking its services. It records the length of time the person longest on the waiting list has waited.
The board operates a procedure whereby priority is accorded for certain categories of cases over other cases, for example, domestic violence, child care and cases where there are time limits. These cases are dealt with immediately. In 2003 approximately 1,500 of priority appointments were offered by law centres. It is 22% of the total number of appointments offered to new clients during the year. The board continually monitors the operation of its law centre network. It seeks to utilise its resources in such a way as to reduce waiting times at centres where they are particularly long.
With regard to the position of additional funding, the grant-in-aid allocation for the board in 2004 is €18.388 million, an increase of almost 5% over the 2003 allocation of €17.539 million. The level of resources provided to the board has increased significantly in recent years. For example, in 1997 the grant-in-aid available to it was €10.656 million. The figure for 2004 represents an increase of almost 73% during the period.
The following tabular statement includes the length of time the person longest on the waiting list has waited for legal services as of May by law centre:
|
Law Centre |
Maximum Waiting Time — May 2004 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
|
Clare |
9.75 |
|
Cork |
|
|
— Popes Quay |
6.75 |
|
—South Mall |
11.00 |
|
Donegal |
8.50 |
|
Dublin |
|
|
— Blanchardstown |
9.00 |
|
—Brunswick Street |
12.00 |
|
—Clondalkin |
2.75 |
|
—Finglas |
12.25 |
|
—Gardiner Street |
4.25 |
|
—Ormond Quay |
3 |
|
—Tallaght |
9.75 |
|
Galway |
8 |
|
Kerry |
4.75 |
|
Kildare |
13 |
|
Kilkenny |
9.25 |
|
Laois |
17.75 |
|
Limerick |
4.25 |
|
Longford |
0 |
|
Louth |
4.75 |
|
Mayo |
2.50 |
|
Meath |
11.75 |
|
Monaghan |
3.50 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
|
Sligo |
3.50 |
|
Tipperary |
4.25 |
|
Waterford |
4.25 |
|
Westmeath |
2.25 |
|
Wexford |
4.25 |
|
Wicklow |
9.75 |
