Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when responsibility for criminal legal aid will be transferred to the Legal Aid Board. [39757/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Work on the drafting of a Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill is at an advanced stage in my Department. The key purpose of the legislation is to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to the Legal Aid Board and to give effect to Government Programme commitments in respect of criminal legal aid, including introducing a more rigorous and objective means testing system for criminal legal aid, provision for contributions, and new sanctions. It is my intention to seek approval of Government for a General Scheme of the Bill and submit it to the Oireachtas for pre-legislative scrutiny as early as is feasible in 2017.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of her Department’s examination of the feasibility of a new public defender system. [39758/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to examine the feasibility of a new Public Defender system. The necessary work to give effect to this commitment is under way in my Department. In particular, the Department is in contact with relevant agencies and work on the research and review of a Public Defender system, including previous reports in the matter and the position in other jurisdictions, is ongoing. I expect to be in a position to report to the Government on this matter early in 2017.