Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider increasing the free legal aid eligibility allowance for mortgage and rent to a figure the reflects current housing market costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50516/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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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.

In June 2022, a Civil Legal Aid Review Group was established to review the current operation of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, including the appropriateness of the current eligibility thresholds. The outputs of the review were published in July 2025 and can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-jim-ocallaghan-publishes-historic-review-of-civil-legal-aid-scheme/. I am currently considering the recommendations of this review, including the recommendations regarding the thresholds and allowances.