Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost in each of the past five years to date in 2010 of free legal aid in criminal cases; the number of cases that received such aid in the past 12 months to date in 2010; his plans to review this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13204/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of Criminal Legal Aid in each of the last five years and to date in 2010 is set out in tabular form. The table also gives the number of legal aid certificates granted by the courts in each of those years. It should be noted that expenditure may relate to certificates granted in previous years.

As the Deputy will be aware I have already indicated my commitment to strengthening the provisions in the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme through changes in the administration of the Scheme and initiatives in the area of means testing. Changes are required to the primary legislation and a Bill is currently under preparation to achieve this.

* to end February 2010