Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Legal Aid Service.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2004

Tuesday, 5 October 2004

Ceisteanna (310)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

428 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the length of waiting lists at legal aid centres in Kilkenny and in Newbridge, County Kildare; if he has satisfied himself with such lists; the plans he has to provide additional staff to reduce such lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23542/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

On 31 August 2004 the number of people awaiting an appointment with a solicitor at Kilkenny Law Centre was 98 and the person who is longest on the waiting list has waited seven and a half months. At Newbridge Law Centre there are 243 people awaiting an appointment with a solicitor and the person who is longest on the waiting list has waited 16 months.

The Legal Aid Board continuously monitors the operation of its law centre network and where waiting times at a law centre, for whatever reason, become excessive, the position is examined by the board with a view to taking remedial action.

The board operates a procedure whereby priority is accorded for certain categories of cases, for example, domestic violence, child care, child abduction and other cases where there are time limits. These cases are dealt with immediately and such applicants are not placed on a waiting list. Such a system for priority treatment is necessary to ensure that persons subjected to domestic violence and cases involving the care of children are provided with a speedy service. It is important to note that in 2003, priority appointments offered by law centres represented approximately 22% of the total number of appointments offered to new clients during the year.

In addition, managing solicitors at law centres have authority to give priority to any case on the waiting list at their centre. For example, if an applicant is gravely ill or in cases where an applicant is in danger of losing assets or of losing title to a legal remedy if services are delayed, the managing solicitor can accord such cases priority status.

With regard to the allocation of resources, the level of resources provided to the Legal Aid Board has increased significantly in recent years. For example, in 1997 the grant-in-aid available to the board was €10.656 million. The 2004 figure of €18.388 million represents an increase of almost 73% during this period and I would expect that the funding for the board will be further increased in 2005.

Barr
Roinn