Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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293. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of financial resources allocated for legal aid services for each of the years 2011 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43723/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the provision of legal aid falls within two separate categories, that is, civil legal aid and criminal legal aid. Details in respect of each category are outlined below.

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 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.

Civil Legal Aid

The Legal Aid Board is tasked with providing civil legal aid in the State. Exchequer funding is provided by way of a grant-in-aid to the Board. Resources allocated to the Board include funding for the provision of the Family Mediation Service, for which the Legal Aid Board assumed responsibility in late 2011.

Total expenditure on civil legal aid for the years requested by the Deputy is detailed below.