Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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81. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting times persons are experiencing in receiving free legal aid broken down by category such as family law, repossessions and so on; the actions she will take to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24265/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The waiting times for civil legal aid services as at 1 June 2016 are set out on a law centre by law centre basis in the following table. The Deputy should note that most of the Legal Aid Board’s law centres operate a ‘triage’ approach which involves giving an applicant a short consultation (45 minutes) for legal advice. Those persons remain on the Board’s waiting list if they require further legal services.

The Board does not maintain separate waiting lists for each category of case. Certain matters are dealt with as priority matters which means they receive the next available appointment at the law centre. Such matters include domestic violence, child abduction, child care, and asylum and related matters.

Note: With respect to the items listed as n/a on the waiting list schedule, the n/a applies where that law centre does not operate the 'Triage approach'.