Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of money granted under the criminal legal aid scheme each year for the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46006/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. An applicant for legal aid must establish to the satisfaction of the court that his/her means are insufficient to enable him/her to pay for legal aid him/herself. The court must also be satisfied that by reason of the "gravity of the charge" or "exceptional circumstances", it is essential in the interests of justice that the applicant should have legal aid.