Ms Mairin Quill (PD) expressed concern at the lengthy delays facing those applying to the Legal Aid Board. When perpetrators of domestic violence learned the victims were seeking such aid, a new viciousness crept in. While demand obviously outstripped the service's capacity to deliver, steps had to be taken to minimise delays, especially for victims of domestic violence, Ms Quill said.
Urging an extension of the mediation service, Ms Quill said we should try to introduce a culture of conflict resolution into these matters, which affected people who had once had feelings for each other.
Mr David Norris (Ind) said an increase of 300 per cent since June 1997 had been reported in many areas the board serviced. In a Cork office, applicants might wait 19 1/2 months. Of the 30 legal aid centres around the country, 10 had waiting lists of over 10 months and in six others there were delays of more than six months. This showed that there was a real crisis.
Mr Maurice Manning, Fine Gael leader in the House, said the growth in family law and child-care cases put huge strain on the board's services. We would need more family law courts and more judges for them. The board would require significantly more resources in this area, otherwise an unacceptable backlog would build up. The warning signals were in the board's report for 1997. Without extra funding, it could end up being submerged by the family law aspect of its work.
Dr Mary Henry (Ind) noted that of 2,175 people seeking assistance on matrimonial proceedings last year, 957 were still on the waiting list at the end of 1997.
Replying to the debate on the last report of the board, Minister of State for Justice Ms Mary Wallace said the service personnel totalled 89 solicitors and 127 support staff. The two Cork law centres would each get an extra solicitor. She hoped the most recent allocations would help to alleviate the waiting list problem.