Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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287. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 528 of 19 November 2013, if he will extract details for some of the more recent years of senior counsel expenditure in this specific area of criminal legal aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51496/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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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 in criminal proceedings. 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.

Total expenditure under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to senior counsel for the years 2006 to mid November 2013 is as follows:

Criminal Legal Aid