Legal Aid Service Waiting Times

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 July 2016

Thursday, 21 July 2016

Ceisteanna (81)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

81. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting times persons are experiencing in receiving free legal aid broken down by category such as family law, repossessions and so on; the actions she will take to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24265/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The waiting times for civil legal aid services as at 1 June 2016 are set out on a law centre by law centre basis in the following table. The Deputy should note that most of the Legal Aid Board’s law centres operate a ‘triage’ approach which involves giving an applicant a short consultation (45 minutes) for legal advice. Those persons remain on the Board’s waiting list if they require further legal services.

The Board does not maintain separate waiting lists for each category of case. Certain matters are dealt with as priority matters which means they receive the next available appointment at the law centre. Such matters include domestic violence, child abduction, child care, and asylum and related matters.

Law Centre	Part-Time Centre	Waiting time for a first consultation 1 June 2016 (weeks)	Waiting time for a second consultation 1 June 2016 (weeks)
Athlone	- Athlone	11	36
	- Mullingar	13	19
Blanchardstown	-	11	n/a
Castlebar	-	5	33
Cavan	-	8	n/a
Clondalkin	-	14	26
Cork Popes Quay	-	16	n/a
Cork South Mall	-	17	35
Dundalk	-	8	0
Ennis	-	13	14
Finglas	-	16	2
Galway Francis St	-	11	15
Galway Seville House	-	7	8
Jervis Street	-	3	25
Kilkenny	- Carlow	12	n/a
	- Kilkenny	13	n/a
Letterkenny	-	12	14
Limerick	-	7	19
Longford	-	16	14
Monaghan	Drogheda	13	n/a
	Monaghan	12	n/a
Montague Court	-	12	n/a
Navan	-	3	10
Nenagh	-	4	31
Newbridge	-	6	n/a
Personal Injuries Unit		31	n/a
Portlaoise	-	13	n/a
Sligo	Boyle	10	n/a
	Sligo	14	n/a
Smithfield	-	30	19
Tallaght	-	11	29
Tralee	-	11	n/a
Tullamore	-	11	16
Waterford	-	19	0
Wexford	-	5	51
Wicklow	-	11	0

Note: With respect to the items listed as n/a on the waiting list schedule, the n/a applies where that law centre does not operate the 'Triage approach'.