Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 248: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the solicitors remunerated under the criminal and civil legal aid schemes in 2006; and the amounts awarded in each case. [7252/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Separate arrangements exist in respect of Criminal and Civil Legal Aid. In so far as Civil Legal Aid is concerned, the position is that the Legal Aid Board provides legal advice and assistance, including Refugee Legal Services, mainly through the solicitors it employs on a full-time basis in its law centre network nationwide. In 2006, the total remuneration paid to these solicitors amounted to €8.24 million. In order to ensure that clients receive a timely service, the Board has also established panels of solicitors in private practice to complement the service provided by the law centres. These solicitors provide services in certain family law matters that come before the courts and also in appeals before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The private solicitors remunerated by the Legal Aid Board in 2006 and the total amount paid in each case is set out in Appendix A. In certain instances these payments include financial provision for the employment of barristers where required by the solicitor in question. The total paid amounted to approximately €1.77 million. The amounts paid to solicitors in 2006 in respect of claims made on foot of legal aid certificates granted by the Courts under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 is provided in Appendix B. Information pertaining to the amounts paid to solicitors in respect of the non-statutory legal aid scheme (CAB) and the non-statutory Garda Station free legal advice scheme is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy when compiled.