Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I am not suggesting that waiting ten or 11 months is ideal. A system is necessary to ensure that persons who are subjected to domestic violence and cases involving the care of children are provided with a priority service. This is a most important initiative by the board and accounts for over 20% of all applications.

The House will be aware that a sum of €17.075 million has been allocated to the Legal Aid Board this year. While this figure represents a slight decrease of 3% on the allocation last year, it still represents a significant increase in resources for the legal aid board in recent years, up from €10.563 million in 1997 to €17.075 million in 2003. This is an increase of almost 62% over the period in question and compares very favourably with a consumer price index increase of just over 24% during the same period. Sanction for the board to employ additional full-time solicitors was also received during this period.