LIMERICK-based community law centre and charity, Community Law and Mediation (CLM), has called on all political parties to commit to reforming the “outdated” and “overly strict” civil legal aid scheme.
The organisation has called for the policy shift which, it says, would ensure people on low incomes can access legal aid in housing, employment, equality, environmental, social welfare, and children’s rights cases – all of which, it says, are currently excluded from or not adequately catered for under the scheme.
The community law centre, which published its annual report for 2023 this week, assisted with 791 cases locally last year.
The CLM said that housing problems and homelessness were the most common issues for people seeking legal assistance, followed by employment, social welfare, and debt problems.
Martina Brennan, solicitor and CLM coordinator, said that the primary focus of the centre is on providing accessible services to people living in the Moyross, St Mary’s Park, Southill, and Ballinacurra Weston areas, as well as people living in underserved parts of the city.
“Last year, our legal advice clinics assisted with a variety of housing-related issues, including illegal evictions, poor housing conditions, and the unlawful refusal of emergency homeless accommodation,” Ms Brennan said.
“We also saw an increase in employment problems present at our clinics, from unfair treatment in the workplace, questions over redundancy, contracts and changes in working hours.”
Ms Brennan says that in such cases “small wins” are “hugely important” to people.
The CLM coordinator said that all services at the centre are free of charge and can include “helping a family to get a roof over their head or to fight for suitable accommodation if a family member has a medical condition, helping a person to secure urgent remedial works in their home”.
Ms Brennan took aim at the State’s civil legal aid scheme, saying that everyone should be able to access basic legal information and advice regardless of their age, income, or background.
“However, due to an outdated and overly strict means test, many find themselves in a position where they cannot afford a solicitor, but they also do not meet the thresholds to access legal aid. Where they do qualify for legal aid, they face lengthy delays for a first appointment with the Legal Aid Board,” she said.
“It is not currently possible to access legal aid for representation in employment, equality, social welfare, environmental, children’s law, and certain housing cases.”
A review of the civil legal aid scheme was commissioned by the Minister for Justice in 2022, and is due to make recommendations later this year.
The CLM believes it is vital that, as a general election approaches, the issue remain a public priority as “the civil legal aid scheme is almost 45 years in place and requires urgent reform to make it fit for purpose to meet the needs of today’s society”.
In addition to free legal advice, CLM Limerick also provides a mediation service, community ‘know your rights’ talks, and legal training for advocacy organisations in debt, housing, social welfare, employment and family law, and environmental rights.
