Question
140. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 119 of 15 November 2016, the number of persons that applied for civil legal aid for legal services in connection with domestic violence remedies during each of the past five years; the number of those persons that had the financial contribution waived; and the total amount of contributions made during those years. [36072/16]
Answer
Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I wish to inform the Deputy that data for the period 2013-2015 is presented in the following table.
| - | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Number of applicants in connection with domestic violence remedies | 2,171 | 2,033 | 1,797 |
| Number of waivers granted | 300 | 247 | 78 |
| Total amount of contributions received | €1.517 m | €1.292 m | €875,482 |
I am informed by the Board that data in relation to the number of applications in relation to domestic violence matters and number of waivers granted prior to 2013 is not available in the above format. However, in 2012, Legal Aid Board law centres provided services in 325 cases where the sole remedy sought was under domestic violence legislation. In addition the Board referred 5,077 District Court private family law cases to private solicitors, a substantial number of which are likely to have been in connection with domestic violence. In 2011 law centres provided services in 559 cases where the sole remedy sought was under the domestic violence legislation and referred 4,864 District Court private family law cases to private solicitors.