Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Haughey for raising this important issue. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

The Northside Community Law Centre is one of a number of organisations funded under the Department of Social and Family Affairs' scheme of grants for the development and promotion of information and welfare rights. Since its establishment in 1975, the centre has been funded exclusively by State agencies, including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the former Eastern Health Board, with the Department of Social and Family Affairs taking over direct funding in 1995. The Department provided €215,000 to the centre last year.

The necessity for the centre to source additional funding over and above what the Department can provide has been explained to the board of the centre for a number of years. This is in line with the situation of all other voluntary organisations funded through the Department's information grants scheme. The Minister is fully cognisant of the valuable role which a community-based legal advice service such as the Northside Community Law Centre can play in the delivery of a comprehensive and cost-effective legal advice service for citizens. However, he is satisfied that his Department is not in the long term the most appropriate source of funding for this service having regard to the fact that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has primary responsibility for funding legal aid services.

It is worth pointing out that in 2004 queries on social welfare represented less than 5% of the law centre's annual business. Also, the Northside Civic Centre in Coolock, where the community law centre is located, has a local social welfare office with a full-time information officer, a citizen's information centre and a money and advice budgeting service office that are all directly or indirectly funded by his Department. The Minister has, therefore, written to his colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, regarding future funding for the centre as an integral part of its legal aid services. He will follow this up with him as a matter of urgency.

Payments totalling €140,000 have already been made to the centre this year to ensure continuity of service, including payment of salaries. Departmental officials have been in discussion with the centre's management on the financial issues involved. The Minister is examining the options for assisting the centre until the issue of future funding for the centre has been resolved. He has decided to invite a delegation from the centre, together with Oireachtas representatives from the area, to meet with him in the coming days to discuss how best to ensure the future of the centre.

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