Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for giving permission to raise this important matter of the staffing levels at the legal aid centre in Nenagh and at the associated centres in Thurles and Clonmel. As the Minister of State may be aware, the administrative centre for the Legal Aid Board for Tipperary is in Nenagh, but there are outreach centres and there are also clinics and offices in Thurles and Clonmel.

A very serious situation has arisen with the staffing levels for the legal aid service in the county and there are consequent implications for those on the waiting list. According to figures supplied by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the staffing levels in the legal aid centres in December, and into January, were three solicitors and 3.5 support staff, and the waiting time for an appointment was nine months. The Minister of State would have to agree that this is an unacceptably long waiting time, particularly when compared to that in other parts of the country where the waiting time is more normally three to four months. Tipperary is outstanding in that regard in having, even in December, one of the longest waiting times for an appointment with the free legal aid service.