Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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689. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the status of the criminal legal aid fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51512/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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690. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the stoppage of criminal legal aid payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51513/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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691. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he can offer assurances to practicing criminal solicitors and barristers that the allocation for legal aid for 2025 is adequate to meet the demands of the scheme and the provision of vital legal services to accused persons in Ireland, in accordance with our international obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51514/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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693. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the total criminal legal aid budget for 2025; the amount of the budget which has been expended by the end of August 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51516/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 689, 690, 691 and 693 together.

Under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, it is the Courts, through the judiciary, that are responsible for the granting of legal aid. Increases in the length and complexity of criminal cases and in the number of legal aid certificates granted have had an impact on expenditure over recent years.

The General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2023 was published in July 2023. The core purpose of the Bill is to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to the Legal Aid Board and update the administration of criminal legal aid. This Bill will modernise the operation of the scheme, introducing strengthened oversight and governance structures. As the Deputy will be aware, the level of fees payable have been increased by 18% over the last two years and my Department is engaging with the legal professions in relation to reform of the scheme.

An initial provision of €91 million was made available for this demand-led scheme in this year's budget. Payments under the scheme continue to be made and expenditure to end of August was €83.5m. A further €8 million has therefore been made available in the further Revised Estimates which I presented to Dáil Éireann last week.

Expenditure continues to be kept under review and I will seek additional funding if required by way of supplementary estimate later in the year.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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692. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the restoration of criminal legal aid fees in respect of practicing criminal solicitors and barristers in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51515/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, contains a commitment to reform the operation of the criminal legal aid system and fully restore criminal legal aid fees. Over the past two years, there has been an 18% increase in the fees paid to barristers and solicitors under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.

This year’s budget for criminal legal aid included an 8% increase in fees from 1 January 2025 in addition to a 10% increase in fees secured in Budget 2024. It is my aim, as part of this year's budget negotiations, to make further progress on fully restoring criminal legal aid fees.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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694. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the total amount spent on criminal legal aid for 2022 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51517/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, it is the Courts, through the judiciary, that are responsible for granting of legal aid.

The table below sets out the expenditure under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme for 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Deputy may wish to be aware that some claims made in 2024 were processed in early 2025.