Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding allocated to the Refugee Legal Service annually for the past five years; the funding allocated for 2009; the services it is expected to offer for that funding; and the number of staff in the Refugee Legal Service for each of the past five years. [37553/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Refugee Legal Service (RLS) is a specialised office established by the Legal Aid Board to provide confidential and independent legal services to persons applying for asylum in Ireland. Legal aid and advice is provided in relation to:

Information on completion of the initial Asylum questionnaire which is required to be lodged with the Office of Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC).

Interview at ORAC.

Cases involving asylum seeking minors. (This is provided through a dedicated Children's Unit).

Dublin Convention cases where an applicant for asylum has, or is alleged to have made inter alia an asylum application in another Convention State.

Appeals to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT).

Applications for re-admission into the asylum system.

Representation in the District Court in respect of cases arising under Section 9 (8) of the Refugee Act 1996.

Applications for Leave to Remain on, inter alia, humanitarian considerations.

Subsidiary Protection applications.

Deportation decisions.

Judicial Review in relation to ORAC, RAT, Leave to Remain, Subsidiary Protection and Deportation matters.

The funding allocated to the Refugee Legal Service (RLS) between 2004 and 2009 is contained in the table.

The staffing numbers for the RLS sought by the Deputy are contained in the table.