The €9 million boost in funding was announced in the wake of an unprecedented withdrawal of services by criminal barristers over three days last summer.

However, it falls short of the €16 million it would have taken to restore criminal legal aid fees to their pre-2008 levels, as urged for years by both the Bar Council and the Law Society.

The Bar Council expressed its disappointment with the eight per cent increase when it was announced last year, pointing out that fees will remain 10.5 per cent below pre-2008 levels, even before taking into account inflation and increases in the cost of living.

Previously, a one-day withdrawal of services by criminal barristers in October 2023 led to a 10 per cent increase in legal aid fees in the subsequent Budget.

Speaking on Wednesday, justice minister Helen McEntee said: “I am delighted to have been able to make further progress in restoring criminal legal aid fees.

“The past two years have seen an 18 per cent increase in the fees paid under the criminal legal aid scheme to ensure that the vital profession of criminal law remains attractive to the legal profession.

“I would like to express my appreciation for the ongoing co-operation of the Bar Council and Law Society with my Department and look forward to continued engagement with both representative bodies, and all stakeholders, on the reform of criminal legal aid, including the modernisation and funding structure of the scheme.

“This continued engagement is essential to ensuring we have an effective legal system.”