Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding a free legal aid application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46409/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that in respect of queries concerning the provision of legal services to any person, the solicitor/client relationship is protected by privilege in accordance with the terms of Section 32 of the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995. The Legal Aid Board cannot therefore provide information to third parties regarding a person who may or may not be a client of the Board.

I am informed by the Legal Aid Board that the Board is required to consider and make decisions on all applications received in its law centres for legal aid. When deciding to grant legal aid, the Board issues a legal aid certificate to the applicant setting out the services to be rendered on that particular matter. In the event that the Board decides not to grant a legal aid certificate, the applicant is directly informed of the decision and the reasons supporting that decision. In addition, the applicant is advised as to their rights to have the decision reviewed and, if required, heard by the Appeals Committee of the Board. In that context, a decision arrived at by the Appeals Committee is final.