Barristers and solicitors were last year paid over €26.7 million through the criminal legal aid scheme, new figures released by the Department of Justice reveal.
The amount last year represents an 18 per cent increase on the €22.5 million paid out in 2002, though it is down €2 million on the €28.6 million paid to barristers and solicitors in 2003.
Last year, the 693 solicitors' firms throughout the State involved in the scheme received €15,132,377 for representing clients in the district and higher courts.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, the Department of Justice revealed the three largest payments to solicitors were paid to Dublin firms working under the criminal legal aid scheme.
The highest earning firm was the practice operated by Terence Lyons, who received €1,072,928 last year. It is the third year in a row the firm has received over €1 million.
Michael Staines, who received over €1 million in 2003, last year received the second highest amount at €937,270. The third highest amount was received by John M. Quinn, who received €556,221, and consistently features in the top-five earning firms. The only non-Dublin based solicitor to feature in the top five is Limerick-based practitioner Ted McCarthy, who received €450,083.
In 2002, solicitors firms received €12.31 million compared to the €15.13 million received last year. The monies exclude expenses solicitors would receive.
Last year, the 416 barristers involved in the scheme received a total of €11,574,688 - an average of €27,823.
The highest earning barrister for the second year running through the criminal legal aid scheme is Blaise O'Carroll SC, who received €302,562, last year - over €80,000 down on the €387,813 he received in legal aid payments in 2003.
The second highest earner last year was Anthony Sammon SC, who received €271,190. Mr Sammon is followed by Isobel Kennedy SC, who received €244,358. The figures show that 13 barristers received in excess of €175,000 last year. The amount received excludes expenses for prison visits.
Labour's justice spokesman Joe Costello said an independent mechanism should be established to determine the value-for-money aspect of the scheme.
He said: "It should be carried out from the client's point of view; how many times a case was adjourned before coming to hearing. Does the client receive a good service through legal aid? This should not be difficult to carry out."
"It would appear that the system is run on quite an ad-hoc basis and it does need to be tightened up with an inbuilt evaluation of how the system works."
The figures do not include amounts paid to barristers and solicitors from the Legal Aid Board, which concerns legal aid for mainly civil cases.
