Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
243. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the amounts paid to legal practitioners, including firms and individuals, in descending amounts, under the provisions of free legal aid since 1 January 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26764/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important to clarify that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services.
The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of criminal legal aid on application by the defence in court. My Department has no role in the granting of criminal legal aid or in the appointment of legal practitioners to a case but is responsible for the payment of fees and expenses to the legal practitioners.
The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 gives expression to the Constitutional right that legal aid must be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. The Criminal Legal Aid Schemes are demand-led and the fees and expenses due to legal practitioners are paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the schemes. Criminal legal aid services are provided by private legal practitioners who have notified the relevant authority of their availability to undertake criminal legal aid work.
In relation to payments made under the criminal legal aid schemes, I have provided a list of payments made for the years requested in the attached.
Civil legal aid and advice is provided for qualifying individuals in civil matters which are those that concern non-criminal disputes between individuals or organisations. Civil legal aid and advice is granted through the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, which is administered by the Legal Aid Board.
The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2017.
To be of assistance to the Deputy, I made enquiries with the Legal Aid Board and have been provided with information detailing all payments to legal practitioners by the Legal Aid Board for the years in question. This information is also attached below.
Legal Aid Board payments to private practitioners 2020-2023
Criminal Legal Aid Earnings 2020
