Criminal legal aid cost €115million last year
By Bernie English · Limerick Post · 27 June 2026
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.
Reporting by Bernie English for Limerick Post, funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. Republished by News Room under the scheme’s reuse permission.
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