Written answer
Legal Aid
Gary Gannon sought information on workforce planning, solicitor recruitment and retention, risks, and adjournments caused by difficulties securing criminal legal aid. The Minister cited the July 2026 fee-structure reform, said over 600 solicitors remain on the panel, and reported that most cases conclude within five appearances, with the arrangements under review.
282. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has conducted any workforce planning exercise, manpower assessment, service-capacity review or similar exercise relating to the future provision of criminal legal aid services since 1 January 2020; the dates on which such reviews were completed; if he will provide details of the principal findings; if his Department has undertaken any assessment of recruitment and retention trends among solicitors undertaking criminal legal aid work for the same period; and if he will provide details of any such assessment. [66123/26]
Comment on this
283. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether statistics are maintained regarding criminal proceedings adjourned due to difficulties in securing legal representation under the criminal legal aid scheme; and, if so, the number of such adjournments recorded in each of the last five years, in tabular form. [66124/26]
Comment on this
284. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether risks relating to the availability, recruitment or retention of solicitors undertaking criminal legal aid work have been identified in any departmental risk assessment, risk register or business planning document since 1 January 2021. [66125/26]
Comment on this
285. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of recruitment and retention trends among solicitors undertaking criminal legal aid work since 1 January 2022; and if he will provide details of any such assessment. [66126/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 to 285, inclusive, together.
I fully recognise the crucial role played by the legal professions in the effective administration of criminal justice, and equally that the Criminal Legal Aid scheme is fundamental to upholding the constitutional and human right to a legal defence. I am committed to improving efficiencies for court users, legal practitioners and the Irish taxpayer. The new District Court Criminal Legal Aid Scheme will allow for those efficiencies.
I published the Review and Reform Proposal of the Criminal Legal Aid fee structure for the District Court on 2 July 2026, which provides detail on the analysis conducted on these reforms.
My department has no involvement in the granting of free legal aid or the assignment of solicitors. These matters are handled entirely by the courts. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, at oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
More than 600 solicitors remain on the Criminal Legal Aid panel as criminal cases continue to be dealt with in the courts. 24 have recently reapplied to join the panel. Since the commencement of the new system over 1,430 new certificates for legal aid have issued. Of the cases concluded under the new system since 1st July 2026, 75% concluded with one court appearance only and 99% of concluded cases were finalised within five appearances.
Since October 2025, there has been ongoing engagement between myself and my officials with the Law Society and Bar Council in relation to the changes to the criminal legal aid fee structure. My department continues to keep the operation of the new criminal legal aid arrangements in the District Court under review.