Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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75. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department will increase the income ceiling for those applying for free legal aid from the current level of €18,000 per annum disposable income, as this prevents many low-income workers and those on low pensions and so on from qualifying. [32612/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Legal Aid Board administers the civil legal aid scheme on foot of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (as amended) and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations (1996 – 2016). Applicants for civil legal aid are required to meet the financial eligibility criteria under section 29 of the Act. The Board has a policy role in relation to the provision of civil legal aid and periodically brings proposals to my Department in relation to the financial eligibility and other criteria in relation to civil legal aid. I understand that the Legal Aid Board are to consider the criteria in 2017 and I will consider any proposal it may make in due course.