Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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415. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the total amount of money spent on civil legal aid in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6220/14]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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417. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of money spent on family mediation services under the Legal Aid Board in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6223/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 417 together.

As the Deputy will be aware civil legal aid is provided by the Legal Aid Board in accordance with the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as amended. In November 2011, the Board's remit was widened to include the Family Mediation Service (FMS), which had previously come under the auspices of the Family Support Agency. The Board's funding is provided by way of a single grant-in-aid and, since 2012, this incorporates funding in respect of the FMS. The funding allocated to the Board in 2012 included approximately €2.8 million in respect of the FMS. The Board is independent in its operations including how it allocates the funding provided but it is cognisant of my objective, in placing the FMS under its remit, of achieving greater synergies between the civil legal aid and family mediation services. I have set out below the Exchequer funding provided to the Board since 2010.

The Deputy may wish to note that Board's total expenditure is higher than the Exchequer funding provided as the Board utilises other forms of income, primarily contributions received from legally-aided persons in addition to costs recovered.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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416. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the total amount of money spent on criminal legal aid in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6221/14]

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. 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 granting of aid is a matter for the court. Total expenditure on criminal legal aid for the years requested by the Deputy is detailed below.

The Deputy will note that the total expenditure for 2012 is €600,000 less than that for 2011. This decrease in expenditure reflects a reduction of 10% in fees payable which was implemented on 1 October 2011.