Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is concerned about staffing levels within the legal aid service nationally, its ability to meet demand, and potential impacts of understaffing within the legal aid service on the wider courts system. [36626/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy will be aware, the Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”) and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. Section 3(3) of the 1995 Act states that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions.

Civil legal aid and advice is provided primarily through a network of law centres by solicitors employed by the Board. The Board operates a total of 34 full-time law centres and a number of part-time law centres. Specific law centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway include an international protection speciality and there are also dedicated units in Dublin dealing with personal injury and/or medical negligence cases and cases involving children at risk. The Board also operates 20 family mediation centres, some of which are co-located within the law centres and Four Courts-based offices. The Board also engages private solicitors in certain areas of law, and on a case-by-case basis, to supplement the services provided by Board’s own solicitors.

Funding is provided annually to the Legal Aid Board by my Department and, given its statutory independence, it is a matter for the Legal Aid Board and its management team to allocate their allotted funding as they deem appropriate. Officials from my Department are, however, in regular contact with the management team in the Legal Aid Board, including on the question of resourcing.

In this regard, I can advise that funding to the Board has increased in recent years, from €53.06m in 2023, to €59.122m in 2024 and €64.122m in 2025.

I would also note that in June 2022, the Civil Legal Aid Review Group was established, with a comprehensive terms of reference. I can confirm that the Civil Legal Aid Review was completed with the submission of majority and minority reports to me in April 2025. Both the majority and minority reports of the Review contain findings and recommendations regarding the future of the Scheme and the broader landscape of legal support, in line with the Group's terms of reference. I am currently considering the findings and recommendations contained in the reports. It is my intention to bring the Review to Government for consideration shortly and to publish it thereafter.

The Legal Aid Board provides a very important service to those who need its support in matters of civil dispute and in more general matters of civil law and operational practice. Given its wide remit and national reach, both I, as Minister, and my Department, will continue to work closely with the Legal Aid Board to ensure it has the resources necessary to meet its most immediate needs and the additional demands it will face going forward.