Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On civil legal aid and the work of the Legal Aid Board, they are demand-led schemes. The sum involved is in the region of €50 million. I am very keen to ensure the minimum waiting periods in the spread of centres throughout the country in the provision of legal aid will be tackled. I point to the progress made in that regard, particularly in the past 12 to 18 months. We are engaged in an ongoing review with the Legal Aid Board. I am very anxious to proceed with the Hammond Lane project, but I am also keen to ensure, from a legislative perspective, family law structures will be more streamlined. I accept that is a particular challenge in parts of the country because one has to wait for cases to be heard, or cases are partially heard and not completed. I am discussing these issues with both the Courts Service and the Judiciary. I hope to be in a position shortly, even in the next few weeks, to bring the general scheme of a Bill to the Government to set up a family law unit within the court regime. It is important that family law cases be dealt with by specially trained and expert family law judges. We should discontinue the current unacceptable practice, where from time to time family law cases are dealt with on the same day as criminal, civil law or licensing cases, etc.

The current funding allocation for the Legal Aid Board is €40 million. The additional resources provided in recent years included €3 million for the provision of legal advice under the Abhaile scheme, which is of benefit to persons dealing with challenges in cases involving the family home.

I am in ongoing contact with the appropriate agencies here and I am very keen that the new Hammond Lane family and child loss centre will be a flagship for family law throughout the country.