Search the record

including increases to financial eligibility thresholds. A 67% increase in funding to the free legal advice centres and €74.6 million for the Legal Aid Board has also been secured in budget 2027. Overall, this represents an investment of over €90 million in access to justice initiatives, the highest … legal aid. This will build on the growth in the provision of civil legal aid services over recent years. In 2025, the Legal Aid Board managed 25,869 applications for civil legal aid. In 2015, the equivalent figure was 16,793. Both the civil legal aid review

individual basis. It is not for me to dictate to the Legal Aid Board how it should manage its provision of legal counselling. It will be a matter for the Legal Aid Board. I am not going to specify in legislation how they should … that. There are also significant pressures on the Legal Aid Board with the legitimate applications coming for legal advice and assistance from those seeking international protection. In 2024, some 28,000 applications were made to the Legal Aid Board. Of them, 11,600 or so were in respect

February 2026. At that meeting, we were delighted to welcome representatives from Women's Aid, the Law Society of Ireland, the Legal Aid Board, the Free Legal Advice Centres and the Bar of Ireland. They each presented evidence to the committee and outlined the areas of reform they … important issues to the committee's attention. One of the most significant issues raised was the level of resourcing available to the Legal Aid Board. The committee was told the civil legal aid scheme is experiencing growing demand while, at the same time, facing difficulties in recruiting

instance to apply to the Legal Aid Board, and that will continue. In 2024, there were 11,689 applications to the board in respect of international protection. That process will continue. To deal with the issue raised by Deputy Ward, the Legal Aid Board finds itself with what … Aid Board. As I said, legal counselling will be provided. It will be based on the definition in Article 16 of the asylum procedures regulation, APR. It will not necessarily have to be legal advice. However, it will not preclude an applicant from applying for legal advice from

they need. I recognise that considerable work is now required to prepare for implementation and my Department will work closely with the Legal Aid Board and other stakeholders to ensure that these important reforms are delivered effectively, sustainably and at the very earliest opportunity. As mediation continues … area. I sincerely thank the Legal Aid Board for its dedicated work in administering the scheme. The board has been operating in an increasingly challenging and complex environment in recent years. I fully recognise and support the need for civil legal aid reform and am confident the additional

legal aid. That is unacceptable. Recommendation 22 in the report to which I refer that report states: An immediate review of the Legal Aid Board's capacity to administer the current Civil Legal Aid Scheme should be conducted by the Department ... in consultation with the Legal Aid Board … report recommends that this review should examine the Legal Aid Board's ability to recruit and retain in-house solicitors and sufficient external expertise and look at the salaries of current and future in-house solicitors, private practitioner fees and counsel fees. Has the review been initiated

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

answer Deputy Ward while I have it in mind. That will be a matter for the Legal Aid Board. I will not specify in legislation that the board in providing legal counselling must do it individually. That would be an excessive reach in terms of a statute … will be a matter for the Legal Aid Board to determine. Deputy Gannon referred to the hearings yesterday before the justice committee. I did not hear them but I read about them. He quoted a section from the Free Legal Advice Centres. I have to ensure what

forget how much good value the State gets from these schemes. I absolutely agree with the statement in the report that the Legal Aid Board needs to be properly resourced to do the job, which comes back to the points I made earlier. There is an efficiency issue … with the Legal Aid Board in terms of the time it takes to get the recommendation and the time it takes to actually get paid. When I was vice-chair of the justice committee in the last session, there was a proposal that criminal legal aid would

legal counselling is not intended to replace an applicant's ability to access legal advice either through private means or through the Legal Aid Board. Legal counselling will be an additional service intended to provide support for an applicant at the very early stage of an application … availability of the service. As I have said, I cannot and will not accept Deputy Carthy's amendment. My Department and the Legal Aid Board are currently analysing how to implement the provision of legal counselling to meet the requirements of the pact. My officials are also examining

Legal Aid Board. The definition of legal counselling will ensure that legal counselling will be provided in line with the regulations of the European Union while not being limited to only being provided by a solicitor or barrister. The Legal Aid Board shall appoint persons that it considers

barrister" but very clearly states "or a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation”. I did that knowing of the pressures of the Legal Aid Board, which the Minister has also acknowledged. I do not know … Members who are present were also there and they might also attest to this. I am really concerned about the future of civil legal aid in this State. I have raised concerns previously in the context of domestic violence victims and their ability to access the courts

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

most notably, the lack of resources made available to the key bodies in addressing these issues in the Decision Support Service, Legal Aid Board and National Advocacy Service. An information campaign must be provided to help people understand what is happening with wardship, like I have highlighted with … initial rollout of the Act. This must be done between three bodies: the DSS, Legal Aid Board and National Advocacy Service. I also recommend running legal advice clinics for people who are impacted by the current wardship process so they can get general information and advice

legal aid in the budget announced this week. I was very pleased to secure an additional €8 million in funding for the Legal Aid Board. I also managed to secure a 50% increase in funding for free legal advice centres. As the Deputy will be aware, in order … which I hope to do, it will necessarily result in a larger cohort of people eligible to receive legal advice from the Legal Aid Board. I need to ensure, in advance of raising the threshold, that I have the solicitors and legal advice providers available to ensure that

which are significant. We need to use this time to look at what can be done. We need to properly resource the Legal Aid Board. I was at a justice committee meeting last week and we heard how under pressure the Legal Aid Board is at the moment

than the estimated cost of implementing even that limited reform, and that is before we address the enormous existing pressures on the Legal Aid Board. We have waiting times of 70 weeks in Navan, 61 weeks in Castlebar and 38 weeks in Ballymun. Imagine being told that … legal proceedings. We cannot continue to treat the delays as normal or inevitable, and we cannot expand eligibility without giving the Legal Aid Board the resources to represent the additional people who become eligible. I want to know what the €14.5 million will deliver, what reforms are being

believe us when we say there is a crisis in legal aid. The Bar Council of Ireland, the Law Society, FLAC, the Legal Aid Board and Women's Aid were all unanimously in agreement with that. They said the system is ready to collapse and is deteriorating … family law. It is bursting at the seams, even without the added pressure this legislation looks like it will put on the Legal Aid Board. The Minister mentioned giving autonomy to the board and deciding on how it spends its resources. It is like Hobson's choice. Will

Civil Legal Aid Act of 1995 still lists designated matters in respect of which legal aid may not be granted by the Legal Aid Board. The refusal to cover defamation seems to be based on a notion that suing for defamation is not only, but out to remain … believe this restriction needs to be deleted. There are more than enough safeguards in the law to ensure that the Legal Aid Board does not fund frivolous or spurious actions

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

following: “ “legal counselling” means oral or written legal advice from a practising solicitor or barrister, or a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation;”. I am surprised the amendment was necessary. I know there are other amendments

would mean. It means any "oral or written legal advice from a practising solicitor or barrister, or a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation". The reason the definition was sought and why so many raised it is because

does not limit legal counselling to legal advice from a practising solicitor. It also refers to "a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation". The Minister might inform the House of other avenues or other places where legal advice

being provided. I note the point that Deputy Carthy's amendment allows counselling to be provided by "a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation". I want to be more specific in what I am doing

Legal Aid Board for each of the past five years; the number of applicants who paid a contribution as required under the Legal Services International Protection and Permission to Remain application document and as outlined in in S.l. No. 346 of 2013 - Civil Legal Aid Regulations 2013, which … whose contribution was waived and under what basis the waiver was granted; the total amount of monies that were received by the Legal Aid Board from this specific regulation and how was that money used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12847/26

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 800 of 4 February 2026, if he will request the Legal Aid Board to provide the number of internal audits conducted since 2020 with respect to its centres at locations (details supplied); if in the interest … transparency the Legal Aid Board will publish these audits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12845/26

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice regarding the withdrawal by the Legal Aid Board of legal aid on the basis of alleged breaches of the in-camera rule, if he will consider introducing an independent appeals mechanism for such decisions. [11598/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has asked the Legal Aid Board to record legal aid expenditure in international protection cases by stage, including initial application, interview preparation, written representations, appeal preparation and appeal hearing

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

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

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the 2026 Performance Delivery Agreement with the Legal Aid Board includes any specific performance indicators relating to international protection legal aid costs, case throughput, waiting times, appeal-stage expenditure or outcome tracking

Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any forecasting model is used by his Department or the Legal Aid Board to estimate future demand and expenditure for international protection legal aid services; if so, to outline the assumptions used; and if he will make

Affairs and Migration further to previous replies indicating that operational matters relating to civil legal aid fall within the remit of the Legal Aid Board, to clarify whether his Department retains policy, governance, or oversight responsibility in relation to civil legal aid services, including, access to such services

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department will request the Legal Aid Board to develop a methodology to estimate the full cost of legal aid services provided to international protection applicants, including pay, law centre overheads, administrative costs, private

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Legal Aid Board’s internal audit programme since 2019 has examined international protection legal aid expenditure specifically; if so, to provide the title and date of each audit; and if he will make

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he will request the Legal Aid Board to undertake a dedicated value-for-money review of legal aid expenditure relating to international protection applicants, having regard to the increase in expenditure since

confirm that in relation to criminal legal aid, the main criminal legal aid scheme is not currently under the administration of the Legal Aid Board and is centrally administered by his Department and that any payments for translation and interpretation services in relation to the main criminal legal

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department or the Legal Aid Board has conducted any value-for-money or efficiency assessment of legal aid expenditure in respect of international protection applicants since 2019; if so, to provide details

Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether decisions regarding funding allocations and approved staffing levels for the Legal Aid Board are informed by any formal or periodic assessment of demand for civil legal aid services; if so, to outline the methodology used, including

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide for additional funding for the Legal Aid Board in the context of their involvement with legal counselling services under the proposed changes as set out in the International Protection Bill

Affairs and Migration whether his commitment to implement “key civil legal aid reforms” will include the expansion of the functions of the Legal Aid Board; whether its functions will be expanded to include the provision of legal information, public legal education and raising awareness of legal rights

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Legal Aid Board records the outcome of international protection cases in which it provides legal assistance, including grants of protection, refusals, appeals lodged, appeals allowed, appeals withdrawn and appeals refused; if not, whether

annual cost of providing free legal services to asylum seekers and persons seeking international protection through the Refugee Legal Service under the Legal Aid Board; the source of this funding; if he will outline how this expenditure is justified when many Irish citizens are unable to access similar

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will increase funding for the Legal Aid Board to reduce waiting times, increase the income limit and provide access to justice for people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49378/26

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of staff, by role, including solicitors, paralegals, mediators, administrative and other staff employed by the Legal Aid Board currently and in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45948/26

indicator exists for the cost per completed international protection legal aid case; if not, whether he intends to introduce one through the Legal Aid Board performance delivery agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32908/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number and proportion of international protection applications supported by Legal Aid Board services that resulted in a grant of protection; a refusal; and a successful appeal, in each of the past five years; and if he will

Affairs and Migration the number of asylum seekers or persons seeking international protection who received free legal advice or representation through the Legal Aid Board, in each of the past five years; and the total expenditure on same in each year. [59943/25

annual cost of providing free legal services to asylum seekers and persons seeking international protection through the Refugee Legal Service under the Legal Aid Board; the source of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59946/25