Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully support the work of Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, and have met with members of the team. I compliment them on the work they do and, in particular, on the work they continued to do through Covid-19. It has been a difficult period for a number of organisations, particularly those that deal with the public. FLAC plays a key role in the provision of legal information, advice and advocacy work through its telephone information referral line, for which my Department has provided grant funding over a number of years.

The Department has received FLAC's annual report. I highlight that, according to the report, last year, the highest number of calls were made to the referral line since 2015, with more than 13,000 calls being made. Obviously, that may have been as a result of the Covid pandemic, as people were not meeting face-to-face and were communicating more online and over the phone. Nevertheless, there was quite a significant increase in the number of calls made to the referral line. We must respond to that.

More generally, given the increase in calls in recent years and in response to representations directly from FLAC to my Department that the cost of providing this service has increased, in budget 2021 I trebled the funding allocated to FLAC from €98,000 to €294,000. That enabled us to support the invaluable work it does and the services it provides to the most vulnerable by strengthening its telephone information and referral line and increasing the numbers of legal advice clinics it provides throughout the country. In budget 2022, I maintained the increased funding allocation to FLAC. We will be responding to and engaging with the organisation and other stakeholders to look at what is possible for this year for the next budget in September. More broadly, FLAC regularly engages with my Department on access to justice matters. In its recent annual report, FLAC called for and welcomed the review of the civil legal aid scheme that I announced and is under way.

This is the first time in its more than 40-year history that we have had a review of this kind. I am pleased to say that the work of the group has commenced. It is being chaired by retired Chief Justice Frank Clarke, with membership drawn from across different sectors. We are trying to make sure that we do not just have legal expertise but that we also have representatives from the various different organisations and representative community groups, including marginalised groups; legal practitioners; academics; Department officials; and representatives from the Legal Aid Board, which administers the current scheme. FLAC is an important member of the review group. Insights from working to promote equal access to justice for all will be invaluable to the group as its work progresses.

The review will allow for an assessment of how well access to justice is facilitated by our civil legal aid scheme, particularly for those on low incomes. The review group will make recommendations for its future, including in relation to eligibility. As part of the review process, I intend that there will be significant consultation to ensure that the insights of a range of stakeholders regarding the operation of the scheme - and how best to support those of limited means with legal needs – will inform the work of the review group.

As I noted, the review group has commenced its work, which is expected to take a period of 12 months. It will report to me periodically on progress, before submitting its final report to me once its work is completed. FLAC’s annual report highlighted that in 2021 almost a third of all queries to its telephone information and referral line related to family law matters. I am determined to overhaul the operation of the family justice system to ensure we have a more efficient and user-friendly family court system that puts the family at the centre of its work. Work on drafting the family court Bill is progressing with a view to publishing the Bill as soon as possible in 2022.

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