Waterford criminal justice system in crisis as Law Society warn of collapse

Just 10 legal aid certificates were granted by Waterford District Court, according to new court office figures published by the Law Society of Ireland.

In July 2025, 312 certificates were issued, which means there has been a 97% decrease.

President of the Waterford Law Society Leona McDonald said: the figures show the scale of the damage the new Criminal Legal Aid Scheme has coused the local courts.

“As a direct result of the new scheme introduced by the Minister for Justice, the criminal justice system in Waterford 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 Waterford 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,” said Ms McDonald.

In a letter to the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, the Law Society has called for the appointment of an independent mediator to help resolve the impasse over the new Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.

Nationally, the new figures given to the Law Society show that 702 legal aid certificates were issued across the country in July 2026.

That is compared to 10,277 in July 2025, a reduction of 93%.

The figures cover legal aid certificates granted in the District Court, District Court appeals and matters sent forward for trial.

In Cork City, 579 certificates were granted in July 2025, compared with just 18 in July 2026.

In Galway, the number fell from 320 to 5, while in Limerick certificates fell from 396 to 169.

In Dublin, 3,344 certificates were granted at the Criminal Courts of Justice in July 2025, compared with 60 in July 2026.

At Cloverhill, certificates fell from 346 to 25, while at the Children’s Court they fell from 128 to just nine.

“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,” said Ms McDonald.