Search the record

terms of international protection, Deputy Carthy is right about that. A significant number of people are seeking legal aid from the Legal Aid Board in respect of international protection. In fact, 11,689 applicants sought legal aid services in relation to international protection last year, which … increase from nearly 10,000 the year before. That is hugely demanding for the Legal Aid Board. I am increasing the funding to the Legal Aid Board. The current budget allocation for the board for 2026 is €72 million, which is made up of €36.5 million

Deputy knows, the Legal Aid Board is the statutory body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to qualifying individuals. There are two parts to it, one is legal advice while the other is legal representation. Eligibility for the scheme is determined by reference … financial assessment. The Legal Aid Board provides enormous assistance, particularly in the area of family law and, indeed, going back to what we were talking about earlier, international protection. The Deputy is correct in that the former Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Frank Clarke, was asked in June

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has initiated an immediate review of the Legal Aid Board’s capacity to administer the current civil legal aid scheme, as recommended by the review of civil legal aid; when he expects this review

aid review, which in itself took three years to complete. Recommendation 22 of that report called for an immediate review of the Legal Aid Board's capacity to administer the current civil legal aid scheme. Will the Minister advise whether that has been commenced and when

training. In the case of section 481, public funding is legally conditional on the provision of quality employment and training. I know it is not the case with funding that is coming via the Irish Film Board. That is not written into law, as such … head, so the Minister can come back to me on this. My understanding is that the EU directives governing state aid to the audiovisual industry say that the state aid is conditional on the meeting of the industry test and the culture test. I am all for giving

High Court found in favour of the stagehands. There have been many of these cases. It revolves around the fact that state aid to film producer companies in this country is contingent on giving quality employment and training. They get the money because they are providing employment … Despite the billions coming out of section 481 over the years, at €500 million now to go to €750 million from the film board, most of our actors and most people who work in the film industry live in poverty. While there are a few A-listers

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has initiated an immediate review of the Legal Aid Board’s capacity to administer the current civil legal aid scheme, as recommended by the review of civil legal aid; when he expects this review