Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I note the point relating to the steering group. I am sure the Minister will not be able to commit to it on the floor of the House, but I might suggest that he request a meeting. The man to whom I have referred might have useful insights and if somebody from the steering group was in a position to speak to him, it might help. I have been contacted by a few others who are at the start of the process. We will see how they go. They were certainly very intimidated by the form when they first received it.

The system is new, but one of the worst elements of the man's experience was that when he went to the Courts Service nobody knew how to help him or exactly what this was. It seemed to the gentleman that the courts were not remotely prepared for this, to the extent that on the first hearing of his case that was brought before the judge, the judge put the case back because he was not familiar with the system. That is really frustrating. The steering group should consider some kind of support because not everyone will qualify for legal aid. To be honest, people should not be obliged to seek legal advice regarding forms for elements of public services. Perhaps that is appropriate, but in any event not everyone will qualify for legal aid.

Greater assistance could be made available to people applying. Some people would not be in a position to go through this process without it being an urgent issue, given the way things develop might not be so quick, but it is not hard to imagine circumstances where things can change rapidly and where families and their loved ones need to respond quickly, make adjustments and apply for measures such as this. That should not take months. It should be relatively straightforward but, obviously, for that to happen, the application needs to be straightforward and there need to be supports.

I ask the Minister of State to take that request back to the Department and relay the feedback I have given. This is an important service and an important reform of an antiquated system, which I am glad to see, but some of those teething problems seem to be real.

See this speech in context