Demand for legal aid among asylum seekers rises 27%

The 2014 annual report from the Legal Aid Board shows 902 people sought asylum-related legal services, an increase of 27% on 2013.

It mirrored an increase in the numbers applying for asylum in the State. The report noted 2014 had been the first year “for some time” there was an increase in the numbers seeking services for asylum related matters.

Overall, demand for the board’s civil legal aid services reduced by about 8% on the 2013 figure although it remained high compared to the pre-recession period.

The report shows the board received 16,433 applications for civil legal aid and advice, including asylum related matters. Over 18,300 cases were processed during the year by the a law centre network.

Waiting times for an appointment with a solicitor in civil legal aid cases “remained a challenge”.

However, the report noted there had been a “significant improvement”, last year to the extent that the numbers waiting for legal services fell from over 5,050 at the start of the year to just over 3,400 by December 31.

The board continued to provide a priority service if it considered that an immediate or near immediate service was needed.

Cases included domestic violence, child abduction, applications by the State to take children into care, and matters that had statutory time limits which were close to expiry.

It also continued to make extensive use of private solicitors, particularly for district court matters. More than 5,200 of applicants presenting with a family law problem were advised and represented by private solicitors.

Commenting on the report, the chairwoman of the Legal Aid Board, Muriel Walls, said the fact waiting times had been reducing was a positive development.

“The challenge for the board is its capacity to meet the demand in the face of constrained staffing and financial resources. The fact the numbers waiting are reducing is a very welcome development,” she said.

“The board continued to provide a priority service in respect of certain areas such as domestic violence, child abduction and child care cases.

“These accounted for 19% of all applications last year. The board is very conscious that undue delay can have a negative impact not just on the person seeking legal services but also on the broader administration of justice in the family area,” she said.