Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 647: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the waiting times for free legal aid by FLAC by location; the number of clients that are on the waiting list; the arrangement that are put in place in the case of court dates being reached in advice of the certificate; his plans to augment this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23248/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that under the Civil Legal Act 1995, as passed by the Oireachtas, the Legal Aid Board is independent in the operation of its functions. However, as a courtesy to the Deputy I have obtained the information sought and am providing it to the Deputy.

At the outset, I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the Legal Aid Board provides 'legal aid' and not 'free legal aid'. The vast majority of persons receiving services from the Board pay a small financial contribution. I also wish to clarify that the Board provides services through, inter alia, law centres. However, FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) is an non-governmental organisation and is not connected to the Board in any way.

I am advised by the Board that the waiting time by reference to each law centre as of 31 August 2011 is set out below. As of 1 September 2011 there were 4,482 persons waiting for a first appointment with a solicitor. The Board prioritises matters that it considers require an immediate service. The sort of matters prioritised include cases involving domestic violence, the risk of children going into care, child abduction, and critical dates being close to expiry. Some other cases that are heard in the District Court are also given earlier appointments. The Board does not generally prioritise matters simply because there is a court date. It considers that this is unfair and inequitable to other applicants, many of whom may be seeking to get to court. Persons who have a court date and are not given an appointment prior to the court date are given a letter detailing their application which they may produce to the court.

Law Centre Maximum current waiting time - 31/08/11

(months)

Dublin

Blanchardstown 4

Brunswick Street 5

Clondalkin 7

Finglas 5

Gardiner Street 6

Tallaght 11

Cork

Popes Quay 4

South Mall 6

Athlone 5

Castlebar 5

Cavan 8

Dundalk 0

Ennis 2

Galway 3

Kilkenny 5

Letterkenny 2

Limerick 2

Longford 5

Monaghan 4

Navan 4

Nenagh 9

Newbridge 9

Portlaoise 7

Sligo 5

Tralee 3

Tullamore 4

Waterford 4

Wexford 5

Wicklow 5