Written answers

Thursday, 29 September 2016

Department of Justice and Equality

Legal Aid Applications

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will expedite an application for free legal aid for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28019/16]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Legal Aid Board provides civil legal aid and advice pursuant to the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and Regulations made thereunder. The Act provides that the Board is independent of the Minister in the performance of its functions.

The Deputy will appreciate as a result that I am not in a position to make a decision on whether civil legal aid is granted in relation to any particular case. The Deputy will also appreciate that for client confidentiality and data protection reasons the Board is unable to disclose information in relation to any individual client.

I am conscious that there are significant demands on the Board and that this gives rise to waiting times for certain services at most of the Board’s law centres. However, waiting times have been markedly reduced over the past couple of years due to measures introduced by the Board and the Deputy will be glad to know that the Board’s budget was increased by €1.6m in 2016 in addition to €750,000 ring-fenced to assist persons at risk of losing their home on account of mortgage arrears.

I know that the Board is extremely conscious of the fact that delays in service can lead to further difficulties not just for the client but also for children, the wider family and even the community as well as the courts system. In this regard, the Board continues to provide a priority service in respect of a number of areas such as domestic violence, child abduction and child care issues.

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