Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2016
66. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for civil legal aid received, approved, pending and refused in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11186/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
The applications are for both legal aid and advice. Only legal aid applications for representation in court would involve an application for a legal aid certificate.
|
Year |
Number of applications received |
Legal Aid Certificates issued |
Private Solicitor Certificates issued |
Number of applications dealt with |
Pending (on waiting list) |
Refused |
|
2006 |
9,689 |
n/a |
1,719 |
13,154 |
984 |
n/a |
|
2007 |
10,164 |
2,470 |
2,306 |
13,905 |
1,163 |
n/a |
|
2008 |
11,888 |
2,543 |
2,983 |
14,917 |
1,681 |
457 |
|
2009 |
14,073 |
2,878 |
4,012 |
16,170 |
2,228 |
430 |
|
2010 |
17,175 |
3,154 |
5,279 |
16,632 |
3,153 |
n/a |
|
2011 |
18,657 |
3,252 |
4,862 |
17,825 |
4,443 |
319 |
|
2012 |
16,870 |
3,300 |
5,082 |
17,652 |
5,014 |
n/a |
|
2013 |
16,851 |
3,882 |
5,640 |
17,304 |
5,067 |
330 |
|
2014 |
15,531 |
3,816 |
5,241 |
18,338 |
3,412 |
280 |
|
2015 |
14,923 |
3,912 |
5,623 |
17,959 |
2,319 |
263 |
|
2016 (end April) |
4,575 |
1,282 |
1,958 |
n/a |
2,232 |
86 |
1. The second column shows the number of applications for Civil Legal Aid and Advice in each of the years requested. This figure does not include applications for asylum and related matters.
2. The third column sets out the number of legal aid certificates issued for representation in court. This figure relates to cases dealt with by Legal Aid Board law centre solicitors only and does not include asylum and related matters.
3. The fourth column sets out the number of certificates issued to persons to enable them to be represented, generally in the District Court, by private solicitors. Again it does not include certificates issued for services for asylum and related matters.
4. The fifth column shows the number of cases dealt with within the law centre network in each year. Some of the applications in this column may have been made in a previous year and are cases that remain in progress. These figures do not include asylum and related matters.
5. The sixth column showing the number of applicants who were awaiting legal services at a particular point in time. It should be noted that since 2012 when the Board introduced a ‘triage’ type approach for certain circumstances, a portion of these applicants will have had a first consultation with a solicitor and will be awaiting a further appointment. (Of the 2,232 awaiting services on 1 May last, 868 have had a first consultation with a solicitor).
6. The final column records the number of cases refused a legal aid certificate for the years where that figure is available. These figures do not include asylum and related matters.
