Criminal defence solicitors across Ireland have formally notified senior judges that their ongoing withdrawal of services in the District Courts over a revised legal aid payment scheme will continue into the new legal year in October.

In formal correspondence sent on Monday by Dublin law firm Ferrys LLP on behalf of participating solicitors, court leadership—including the Chief Justice and the presidents of the High, Circuit, and District Courts—were informed that defence lawyers remain unable to provide services under the revised model, except in cases involving defendants in custody or specific priority protocol matters involving children.

The dispute centers on a new flat-fee payment scheme introduced by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan on 1 July 2026. Under the revised framework, solicitors receive a single fixed fee of €520 per legally aided client in District Court cases, replacing a long-standing appearance-based payment structure that paid €239.38 for an initial appearance and €59.86 for subsequent sittings.

In their correspondence to court leadership, the solicitors stated that the profession had made significant efforts to settle the impasse, including offering substantial concessions regarding implementation. However, they accused Minister O'Callaghan of failing to engage in a meaningful manner to resolve the dispute.

The Minister for Justice previously rejected calls from the Law Society of Ireland to appoint an independent mediator to break the deadlock, stating that mediation would not assist while regulations underpinning the scheme remain subject to a High Court judicial review challenge. A judgment on that challenge is scheduled to be delivered on 13 October.

Minister O'Callaghan and the Department of Justice have maintained that the court system continues to operate effectively, citing hundreds of active legal aid certificates issued since July and noting that over 600 solicitors remain on the criminal legal aid panel. Meanwhile, legal professional bodies, including the Bar of Ireland, have voiced deep concern over escalating court delays and warned that access to justice for both accused persons and victims remains compromised ahead of the new court term opening on 5 October.