Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We obviously have to work within certain pay levels. Where there have been challenges with recruitment, I have tried to increase pay levels. We are, though, competing with the private market and this in itself can create a challenge. Certainly, however, every effort is being made to support the Legal Aid Board and to work with it to recruit as many staff as possible. On the Deputy's point, it is a crucially important service and the funding for it has increased year on year. The number of people we have been able to help has also increased year on year, but, of course, we want to be able to do more. There has been an increase of €5 million, then, for next year. I expect and would like to see that funding spent and no underspending in this area.