Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the financial difficulties of the Northside Community Law Centre; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that financial shortfalls have disrupted the delivery of its services in former years also; if he will move to put the centre on a firm funding basis with clear funding and clear associated responsibilities and terms of operation. [12639/05]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the financial difficulties of the Coolock Community Law Centre; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that financial shortfalls have disrupted the delivery of its services in former years also; and if he will move to put the centre on a firm funding basis with clear funding and clear associated responsibilities and terms of operation. [12340/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.

The Northside Community Law Centre is one of a number of organisations which are funded under my Department's 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 with the Department taking over direct funding in 1995. Annual funding has increased progressively over the years and the Department provided €215,000 to the centre in 2004. 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 over a number of years. This would be in line with the situation of all other voluntary organisations funded through the Department's information grants scheme.

I am 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, I am satisfied that my 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. Social welfare queries dealt with by the centre in 2004 represented less than 5% of its annual business. I have therefore written to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, regarding future funding of the centre as an integral part of its legal aid services.

In the meantime, my Department will continue to fund the centre as heretofore. Advance payments totalling €140,000 have already been made to the centre this year so as to ensure continuity of service, including payment of salaries. It should be noted, however, that the centre is seeking a substantial increase in funding for 2005 which my Department will not be in a position to meet from its current budget. Discussions are continuing with the centre's management on these issues.