James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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245. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on her Department’s civil legal aid scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26105/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In its over forty years of operation, the Civil Legal Aid Scheme has been a significant and beneficial public service, providing legal aid and advice to people of limited means in civil disputes, including family law.

However, since the Scheme was set up, Irish society has changed, and the demands on the service have grown. In June 2022, I established the Civil Legal Aid Review Group to review the current operation of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme and make recommendations for its future.

The Review Group is chaired by a former Chief Justice. The membership of the group is drawn from legal practitioners, academics, Department officials, those who work with marginalised groups, and representatives from the Legal Aid Board, which administers the statutory scheme.

The Group is considering many aspects of the scheme, in line with its terms of reference such as the appropriateness of the current eligibility thresholds, the scope of the scheme and whether it should remain primarily a family law service.

As part of the review, a comprehensive multi-phased process of consultation was conducted to ensure that as wide a range of views as possible on these issues is captured. The Group has considered the findings from this extensive consultation and the research processes it has undertaken, in the overall context of its terms of reference, the existing legal support landscape in Ireland and how best to meet the civil legal needs of individuals now and in the future.

Progress is ongoing and the Group is expected to conclude its work in the near future, at which point I look forward to considering its recommendations.