Budget’s €14.5 million for civil legal aid
The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has been allocated €5.9 billion in Budget 2027.
While the total is 8% lower than the previous year, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation says that the figure of €5.5 billion for current spending represents an increase of €363 million on the “core” figure for 2026.
The amount allocated for capital investment is 10% higher at €430 million.
The total includes €14.5 million to start implementing key recommendations from a report last year on the civil legal-aid scheme.
This will go towards reforming the financial-eligibility criteria for civil legal aid – including increases to the income thresholds and the allowances provided for to assess an applicant’s means.
Lower allocation for accommodation
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers told the Dáil that an additional €122 million would be provided to recruit up to 1,000 new gardaí next year.
A breakdown shows that the €946 million for accommodation linked to international protection and Ukraine is down significantly from this year’s €1.6 billion. This is, the department says, in line with policy changes.
There is a €13.5 million increase for the Courts Service, bringing its total to €228 million. The total includes €10 million linked to an increase in the number of judges and €1.7 million for interpretation and translation services and intermediaries for vulnerable witnesses.
The allocation for the Irish Prison Service rises by €77 million to €686 million, which will allow the service to meet the costs of more than 200 additional staff on a phased basis and a 33% increase in additional hours.
The justice allocation includes an additional €2.9 million for the Probation Service.
Funding for e-evidence office
The National Cyber Security Centre receives an additional €7.5 million, while an extra €2.8 million goes to the Office of the Director of Criminal Justice International Co-operation, which was set up this year to enforce EU e-evidence rules.
The Data Protection Commission receives an increase of €2.8 million to help it meet additional responsibilities.
Among efficiency measures listed for the Department of Justice in 2027 is "the continued evaluation and review of the reforms implemented in 2026 on the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme".