Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2017
33. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider putting a fund in place for persons and publicly funded institutions to apply for resources in civil legal cases where the same limits of funding would apply to both; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10980/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the provision of civil legal aid in the State is delivered through the Legal Aid Board. The Legal Aid Board administers the civil legal aid scheme on foot of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (as amended) and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations (1996 – 2013). The criteria for obtaining legal advice are set out in section 26 of the Act while the criteria for obtaining legal aid are set out in section 28. Both sections require that an applicant satisfy certain financial eligibility conditions, and the detail of these conditions is set out in the aforementioned Regulations.
Overall, this Government has made significant strides in improving the efficiency of the legal aid system and I am satisfied that the current model is appropriate to meet the needs of those people seeking civil legal aid insofar as is possible.
