John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reinstate the civil legal aid private practitioners scheme; the likely Exchequer funding required for such an action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12040/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the private practitioners scheme has not been discontinued, the question of its reinstatement does not arise. I am in fact pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that, following an increase in funding for the board from €18.388 million in 2004 to €21.362 million in 2005, the scheme has been expanded to provide improved services to the board's clients.

In addition, I have recently sanctioned a scheme for the use by the board of private practitioners in the Circuit Court to deal with judicial separation and divorce cases. The scheme was approved on 7 April and I understand that the board is already in the process of allocating cases to private practitioners. These two measures should greatly assist the board in improving waiting times for its services.