New figures from the Courts Service show a dramatic reduction in the number of criminal legal aid certificates being granted by the Louth District Court offices following the introduction of the new Criminal Legal Aid Scheme in July.

In Dundalk, the number of certificates granted fell from 329 in July 2025 to 19 in July 2026.

“The figures provided by the Courts Service are deeply concerning and demonstrate the scale of the reduction in criminal legal aid certificates since the new scheme came into effect,” said Fergus Mullen, President of the Louth Solicitors’ Bar Association.

“As a direct result of the new scheme introduced by the Minister for Justice, the criminal justice system in Louth is under significant pressure.

“Access to legal representation is a fundamental part of ensuring that the criminal justice system operates fairly and effectively. Solicitors in Louth are seeing first-hand the impact that the new scheme is having on the provision of criminal legal aid, leaving many without access to justice,” continued Mr Mullen, State Solicitor for Co. Louth.

“These figures should prompt an urgent review of how the scheme is operating in courts across the country. We would encourage the Minister and the Department of Justice to listen to the experience of practitioners on the ground and to take practical steps to ensure that access to justice is protected.

“The Law Society remains available to engage with the Minister and the Department of Justice on the announced review and on practical measures which could make the Scheme workable in the interim.”

The Law Society has identified two targeted changes which it believes would address the principal remaining concerns with the Scheme: ensuring that separate and distinct criminal cases are treated separately where appropriate and providing an additional certificate where a case extends beyond ten court appearances.

It says the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme should continue to be assessed against evidence from courts and practitioners across the country.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme