Chances are it has not, and an increase in the minimum wage does not make it suddenly a living wage. We are more-or-less at full employment without much spare capacity, as the report notes, meaning prices are likely to remain high. And if unexpected costs hit, there may not be a cushion there to absorb them. “First and foremost, civil legal aid is not treated as a fundamental right, a core social service or an investment that will benefit and save money for individuals, communities, the courts and the State. With such intense pressure hitting families on so many fronts, even the slightest relief would be sorely welcomed.

Source: Irish Examiner January 12, 2026 02:53 UTC