103 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the ratio of legal aid solicitors to population in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12281/97]

Currently there are 81 solicitors serving in the network of 30 full-time law centres operated by the Legal Aid Board. There are full-time law centres in each of 23 counties. Legal services in the remaining three counties, i.e., Carlow, Leitrim and Roscommon, are provided from part-time law centres located at Carlow, Carrick-on-Shannon and Boyle, which are serviced from the full-time centres at Kilkenny, Longford and Sligo respectively. The ratio of solicitors to population in each of their respective counties is set out in the following tabular statement:

Table.

Ratio of Legal Aid Board solicitors to population in each county.