Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have one question about the extra money provided to the Legal Aid Board for providing legal advice and services to victims of sexual violence. There are a lot of cases coming before the courts in which there is a background of domestic violence involving, for example, breaches of protection orders and barring orders. In my experience, many of those cases are dropped before they are to be heard or on the day of the hearing. What extra plans does the Legal Aid Board have? Does it have any ambition to help the complainants in those cases who have protection orders and barring orders, and to give them legal advice and support? Sometimes cases are dropped because there is an improvement in the relationship, but it is difficult for them, mostly women, to leave the relationship. Could they get help and advice from the Legal Aid Board? Will that be considered by the board to address the problem?