Deputy Burton has welcomed the news that waiting times for a first appointment with a solicitor under the legal aid programme decreased from 11months in December 2004 to 3 months in December 2005.

Deputy Burton said, “This is a really important issue as it vital that everyone has access to the legal system within a reasonable time frame regardless of their income level.”

“Even with this dramatic reduction in the waiting time, Blanchardstown is still at the upper end of the spectrum as many centres have no waiting lists or are down to a waiting time of 1 month.

“If somebody has an urgent legal issue, 3 months is still a lot of time to wait for an initial appointment. I will continue to monitor waiting times for residents in the Blanchardstown area and pursue the Legal Aid Board to ensure that Dublin West residents receive the same level and speed of service as others around the country.”