Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the 2008 and 2009 estimate for payments to lawyers under the legal aid service; the respective rates for these payments in 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3061/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the payments made to lawyers under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, which is administered by my Department. The details are as follows:

Actual expenditure for 2008: €55.3 million

Provisional estimated expenditure for 2009: €45 million

As regards the rates, the fees paid to solicitors and counsel in the Circuit and Higher Courts in respect of indictable offences are determined by the level of fees (set by the Director of Public Prosecutions) payable to prosecution counsel through parity arrangements which are provided for by Regulations made under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962.

The rates of fees payable to solicitors for attendance in the District Court and for appeals to the Circuit Court; to solicitors and counsel in respect of essential visits to prisons and other custodial centres (other than Garda Stations) and for certain bail applications are set out in the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S. I. No. 41 of 2007) and the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S. I. No. 15 of 2009) which came into effect on 1 February, 2009 and reduced the rates by 2.5%.

In addition, there are a range of fees payable to solicitors under the Garda Station Advice Scheme.