Legal aid applications increase by almost 20%
According to the Legal Aid Board annual accounts for 2009, 14,073 applications for legal aid and advice were received in 2009, an increase of 18% on the previous year.
Between 2006 and 2009, the number of applications received by the board increased by a staggering 45%, with the rate of increase showing no sign of slowing down in 2010.
In total, the Legal Aid Board’s law centres processed 16,170 cases in 2009, up 8% on 2008, while an additional 4,102 cases were referred out to private practitioners, up 34% on the previous year.
The board attributes the sharp increase to a number of factors. The most significant is the downturn in the economy which has led to more people satisfying the means test which allows them to use the legal services provided by the board. The evidence also points to a greater need for legal services during times of economic stress, particularly in areas like family law, debt and employment.
The only area of the Legal Aid Board’s operations that did not see an increase in applications was the refugee legal service, which provides legal services to asylum seekers. The accounts show there was a drop of almost 29% in new clients in 2009 seeking to use this service. This is consistent with the falling number of asylum applications in the State.
Funding for the civil legal aid service fell by 2.5% to €26.31 million. For the refugee legal service, the funding provision fell by 6% to €8.33 million. Overall, staffing levels fell by about 8% over the course of the year.
Chairperson of the Legal Aid Board Anne Colley said the board is one of the public services where the impact of the downturn in the economy is most felt.
“The noticeable challenge now faced by the board in delivering services is the fact that this surge in applications has occurred at a time when our resources, in common with other public service organisations, have been depleted.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
