Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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569. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider a review of the payment levels to solicitors and barristers for the provision of services under civil legal aid for domestic violence and family law matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7575/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Legal Aid Board (“the Board”) is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (the “Act”) and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions.

However, to be of assistance to the Deputy I have had enquiries made with the Legal Aid Board on foot of which the following information is provided.

Civil legal aid and advice is provided primarily through a network of law centres by solicitors employed by the Board. The Board also engages private solicitors to supplement the services provided by Board solicitors in certain areas of law on a case-by-case basis, those areas of law being; District Court family law matters, Circuit Court judicial separation and divorce cases, international protection cases, and cases on foot of the Abhaile scheme.

The Legal Aid Board has made proposals to my Department with regard to the restructuring of the terms and conditions for the District Court Family Law Panel of private solicitors, and the Barristers Panel. These proposals are currently being considered in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.