Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Select Committee on Justice and Equality
Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
Before we leave that sub-head, I have a question. Subhead A15 is Legal Aid (Criminal) and subhead A16 is Legal Aid - Custody Issues. The question also covers forensic science to some extent and subhead A23, commissions and special inquiries. In the Supplementary Estimates last year, we increased the amount available to the Department for legal aid. There was a significant fall, particularly in subhead A16, if my figures are correct, of 38.46%. It is a significant underspend in that area. The same could be said for the criminal legal aid criminal too. Does the Minister want to comment on that? Is there a specific reason for that?
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