Criminal legal aid cost €115million last year
TOTAL spending on the Criminal Legal Aid scheme across Ireland for 2025 surged to a record €115.3million, according to official figures.
The details were provided in response to a query from the Limerick Post on the cost of the scheme.
No regional breakdown was available and all figures mentioned are national figures.
This represented a significant 37 per cent increase, or a jump of over €31m from the €84.08m spent in 2024, amid rising legal fee payments to solicitors and barristers.
The increase was driven by rising demand and fee restoration. Reports in late 2025 indicated a projected total spend of up to €120.5m, reflecting intensified activity.
Within the 2025 expenditure, 31 defence lawyers were paid more than €500,000 each through the criminal legal aid scheme.
The scheme sought an additional €21.5m in a supplementary estimate to cover the 2025 costs.
As part of a phased restoration of fees, an eight per cent increase in fees was implemented on January 1, 2025.
The Government has allocated an increased amount of €123m for 2026 to continue with full fee restoration and further systemic reform.