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Legal Aid Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Ceisteanna (616)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

616. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the Legal Aid Board office in Finglas, Dublin 11 which has temporarily relocated to Smithfield Law Centre; when Finglas Law Centre will re-open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28790/20]

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Freagraí scríofa

The Legal Aid Board provides legal advice and aid under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2017. Section 3(3) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 provides that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and I am informed that the Board has recently found it necessary to vacate its existing premises in Finglas, Dublin 11, due to various health and safety issues. The staff of the office have been temporarily re-located to a Board office in Dublin City Centre. I am also informed that the Finglas Law Centre remains intact as an office within the Legal Aid Board management structure. The Board is contacting all clients of Finglas Law Centre in writing to advise that there is no change to the solicitor dealing with their particular case, and providing new contact details for the Law Centre.

I am further informed by the Legal Aid Board that it is committed to maintaining an office in the area of north Dublin city. The Legal Aid Board has, for some time, sought an alternative premises in the vicinity of Finglas and nearby areas that is suited to the needs of its clients and its staff. These efforts are continuing and I am assured by the Board that the law centre, and its staff, will return to north Dublin at the earliest possible opportunity when an appropriate premises has been obtained and fitted out.

The Board is currently engaged with another public body with offices in north Dublin with a view to Legal Aid Board staff providing a temporary clinic from those offices at specific times, until the new law centre office is opened. The Board hopes to finalise these arrangements shortly.

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