Number of people securing legal aid soars

THE number of people securing legal aid has soared — with the rise in applications being attributed to the recession.

The Annual Report 2010 of the Legal Aid Board, published yesterday, showed a 21% increase in applications for civil legal aid last year compared with the figure for 2009.

That total of 17,175 applications continues an upward trend of recent years, with the report also showing that last year there was an increase of 22% in applications to law centres, which in turn processed 16,632 cases last year.

By contrast, there was a 37% fall in the number of new clients within the asylum seeker system applying for legal aid — which is in line with the reduction in the number of people claiming asylum in recent years.

Despite the increase in demand, staff levels within the Legal Aid Board fell last year, resulting in growing waiting times for an appointment with a solicitor. Some cases were passed onto private-sector solicitors and barristers, while other cases were dealt with on an “advice only” basis.

In 16 centres around the country waiting times of more than four months are now the norm, while waiting times of under four months are typical at 13 of the centres. However, an immediate service was provided to 15% of clients, on the basis of the urgency of need.

The Legal Aid Board operates 33 centres around the country, with at least one centre in every county with the exception of Leitrim, Carlow and Roscommon.

To qualify for legal support an applicant must have a maximum annual income of €18,000, after deductions, and chief executive of the Legal Aid Board, Dr Moling Ryan, said many people on social welfare are “passported through”.

The board attributed the rise in applications to the recession, with more people meeting the means test criteria for support, and a growing need for legal services in areas such as family law, debt and employment.

Minimum contribution fees apply, from €10 for legal advice to €50 for representation in court.

The report also shows a 12% increase in the number of child care cases.

Dr Ryan said this was possibly because more children were being taken into care.