Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the period of time an applicant must wait for an appointment at the free legal aid centres in Newbridge, Portlaoise and Carlow; the number on the waiting list in each area; the number seeking barring orders that are on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24213/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that the present position regarding waiting times at the Legal Aid Board's law centres is that legal services are being provided to all eligible persons within a maximum period of four months. The table shows the length of time the person longest on the waiting list has waited for legal services in addition to the number of people on the waiting list at each of the specified law centres.

The Board does not specifically retain information in relation to the number of people seeking barring orders. However, the Deputy should note that the Board continues to provide a priority service to certain categories of cases that have been identified as requiring an immediate or near immediate service. The types of cases which are regarded as priority include domestic violence, (including barring orders), child abduction, child care and cases involving statutory time limits. In essence, this means that anyone applying for legal aid, who comes within one of the above categories, would not be put on a waiting list, but would be dealt with immediately.