Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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512. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount paid each year in legal aid for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50757/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the provision of legal aid falls within two separate categories, i.e. civil legal aid and criminal legal aid. Details in respect of each category follow.

Civil Legal Aid

The Legal Aid Board (LAB) is the statutory body which provides legal aid and advice in civil law matters to persons on lower incomes. All Board services are governed by the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations. The Deputy should note that there has been a substantial increase in demand for civil legal aid services over recent years, which has meant that funding for the service has been maintained to a significant degree. Furthermore, it should be noted that the figure for 2012 includes funding in respect of the Family Mediation Service, for which the Board assumed responsibility in late 2011.

Criminal Legal Aid

The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means. Under the Act, the grant of legal aid entitles the applicant to the services of a solicitor and, in certain circumstances, up to two counsel, in the preparation and conduct of their defence or appeal. The assignment of lawyers or the granting of aid are matters for the Court and, as such, are handled by the judiciary.