Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when responsibility for criminal legal aid will be transferred to the Legal Aid Board. [18653/17]

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 later in 2017.