Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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740. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the criminal legal aid fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62958/25]

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 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. Expenditure to end of September was €87.7m. As the Deputy is aware, a further €8 million has been made available in the further Revised Estimates which I presented to the Dáil in September.

Expenditure continues to be kept under review and I will seek additional funding by way of supplementary estimate.