Family law case delays highlighted in court

Long delays in progressing family law cases in the southwest because of a lack of access to civil legal aid, were highlighted at the Circuit Civil Court in Killarney yesterday.

The court heard some people in family law cases in Kerry are waiting seven months and more before they get to consult a solicitor assigned by the legal aid board.

A Legal Aid Board spokesman has confirmed: “Nationally, there were 5,383 persons waiting to access legal services as at September 1. Waiting times have increased significantly in recent years due to the huge increase in demand for the board’s services since the economic downturn, largely reflecting the much greater number of people who are now financially eligible for civil legal aid.” The majority of these cases waiting to access legal aid are family law cases, the legal aid board has confirmed.