Press Release: Strong demand for free community-based legal services in Limerick, October 2019

Housing, social welfare and family issues drove strong demand for Community Law & Mediation’s services in Limerick last year.

Community Law & Mediation (CLM), which publishes its 2018 Annual Report today, assisted more than 3,000 people across the country through its free community-based legal, mediation and education services last year. Its Limerick law centre, which is the only independent law centre outside of Dublin, assisted more than 630 people in the communities identified for regeneration, and residents of other disadvantaged areas of Limerick city.

Rose Wall, CEO of CLM commented:

As a community-based law centre, we see a range of issues coming through our services and in most cases, the individuals and families involved have nowhere else to go for assistance. Our law centre in Limerick is unique in that it is the only independent law centre outside of Dublin, and it responds directly to the needs of the people of Limerick. We recently appointed a new Manager, Sinead Kerin, who brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in social welfare and housing law, having previously worked with the Mercy Law Resource Centre and Focus Ireland in Limerick.

Last year, we brought a series of successful public interest cases in relation to difficulties accessing social housing; refusal of emergency accommodation; problems accessing social welfare payments; and discrimination in the workplace. In one instance, we assisted a couple who had been informed that they were no longer entitled to emergency accommodation as they had refused an offer of separate hostel placements. The woman was heavily pregnant at the time and needed the support of her partner and so the offer of separate hostel placements was entirely unsuitable. We advocated on behalf of the couple and following extensive legal representations, the local authority agreed to reassess the couple’s housing needs.

CLM is clearly meeting a gap by facilitating access to justice for all, particularly those from more disadvantaged communities.

In addition to its services, CLM campaigned for law reform, and for the safeguarding of rights already enshrined in law, in areas such as education, housing, disability rights, social protection, employment and equality last year. The organisation also holds a series of Know Your Rights talks on legal matters such as Enduring Power of Attorney, Wills, the Fair Deal Scheme, family law and how to apply for social housing and these are open to all to attend.

ENDS

For further information please contact Elizabeth Devine, Communications Manager, CLM.

Tel: 01 847 7804 Mobile: 087 697 5677

Note to Editors

Community Law & Mediation (CLM) was established in 1975 as the first independent, community-based law centre in Ireland.

Today, CLM supports more than 3,000 people annually through its range of services, which include free legal advice and representation; information and education; and mediation and conflict coaching. It operates two Community Law Centres, CLM Limerick and CLM Northside, and partners with other organisations to provide outreach advice clinics around Ireland.

Other statistics in relation to CLM’s services in 2018:

  • CLM held more than 180 legal advice clinics last year. The organisation also collaborated with Novas Limerick, the Citizens Information Board and MABS to provide outreach legal advice clinics around the country. As part of a new collaboration with the National Women’s Council of Ireland, we will provide monthly employment law advice clinics for women, commencing on 31st October 2019.
  • We observed a significant increase in demand for our mediation service last year, reflecting a growing demand for mediation as an alternative approach to resolving disputes and one that enables people to reach an agreement outside of the courtroom. The majority of mediation cases involved parental/wider family issues, followed by community/neighbour and workplace mediation cases.
  • We published two information guides last year – a comprehensive guide to social housing for advocates and individuals/families who are on the social housing list or seeking to apply for social housing; and an information leaflet on homelessness.
  • We also ran an education and training programme, which included Know Your Rights talks on areas such as Enduring Power of Attorney, Wills, the Fair Deal Scheme, family law and how to apply for social housing. An online Housing Law and Policy course, in partnership with the University of Limerick, ran from September to December and was accessible to people all around the country.
  • CLM has a panel of 66 experienced and dedicated volunteer barristers, solicitors and mediators. Our volunteer mediators delivered 1,360 hours of free mediation services last year.
  • We continued to update Casebase – the only publicly accessible database of reports of decisions of the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The aim of the database is to provide greater clarity around the reasons for decisions on cases and to assist members of the public and advocacy organisations with their preparations for similar cases.
  • CLM also campaigned for law reform, and for the safeguarding of rights already enshrined in law, in areas such as education, housing, disability rights, social protection, employment and equality. We hosted three roundtable discussions on the Caravan Loan Scheme, mental health and the social welfare system and the practice of reduced timetables in schools.

Press Release: Strong demand for free community-based legal services highlights limitations of Civil Legal Aid Scheme, October 2019

Demand for free legal services in the area of employment law grew last year, according to Community Law & Mediation (CLM), highlighting the limitations of the State’s Civil Legal Aid Scheme in providing support for people who are experiencing difficulties in the workplace.

CLM, which publishes its 2018 Annual Report today, assisted more than 3,000 people through its free community-based legal, mediation and education services last year. In addition to employment law cases, housing and family issues drove strong demand for the organisation’s services.

Rose Wall, CEO of CLM commented:

As a community-based law centre, we see a range of issues coming through our services and in most cases, the individuals and families involved have nowhere else to go for assistance. Last year, we brought a series of successful public interest cases in relation to discrimination in the workplace; difficulties accessing social housing; refusal of emergency accommodation; and problems accessing social welfare payments.

In one instance, we assisted an individual who had represented herself before the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging discrimination by her employer and constructive dismissal. She found the complaints and adjudication process confusing and intimidating and her case was unsuccessful. We lodged an appeal to the Labour Court on her behalf, challenging the decision of the WRC, and a satisfactory settlement was reached.

It is clear that the lack of legal aid for employment and equality cases and for social welfare appeals is a major barrier to enforcing citizens’ rights. We support the recent calls by partner organisations such as FLAC for a review of the legal aid scheme. We also call for expansion of the scheme to include employment and equality cases before the WRC and social welfare appeals before the Social Welfare Appeals Office

In addition to its services, CLM campaigned for law reform, and for the safeguarding of rights already enshrined in law, in areas such as education, housing, disability rights, social protection, employment and equality last year. The Report can be read in full here.

ENDS

For further information please contact Elizabeth Devine, Communications Manager, CLM. Tel: 01 847 7804 Mobile: 087 697 5677

Note to Editors

Community Law & Mediation (CLM) was established in 1975 as the first independent, community-based law centre in Ireland.

Today, CLM supports more than 3,000 people annually through its range of services, which include free legal advice and representation; information and education; and mediation and conflict coaching. It operates two Community Law Centres, CLM Northside (Dublin) and CLM Limerick, and partners with other organisations to provide outreach advice clinics around Ireland.

Other statistics in relation to CLM’s services in 2018:

  • CLM held more than 180 legal advice clinics last year. The organisation also collaborated with the Citizens Information Board, MABS, the Clondalkin Traveller Development Group and Novas Limerick to provide outreach legal advice clinics around the country. As part of a new collaboration with the National Women’s Council of Ireland, we will provide monthly employment law advice clinics for women, commencing on 31st October 2019.
  • We observed a significant increase in demand for our mediation service last year, reflecting a growing demand for mediation as an alternative approach to resolving disputes and one that enables people to reach an agreement outside of the courtroom. The majority of mediation cases involved parental/wider family issues, followed by community/neighbour and workplace mediation cases.
  • We published two information guides last year – a comprehensive guide to social housing for advocates and individuals/families who are on the social housing list or seeking to apply for social housing; and an information leaflet on homelessness.
  • We also ran an education and training programme, which included Know Your Rights talks on areas such as Enduring Power of Attorney, Wills, the Fair Deal Scheme, family law and how to apply for social housing. An online Housing Law and Policy course, in partnership with the University of Limerick, ran from September to December and was accessible to people all around the country. Our Legal Eagles Schools Project, funded by Dublin City Council, involved transition year students at two local secondary schools in Coolock.
  • CLM has a panel of 66 experienced and dedicated volunteer barristers, solicitors and mediators. Our volunteer mediators delivered 1,360 hours of free mediation services last year.
  • We continued to update Casebase – the only publicly accessible database of reports of decisions of the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The aim of the database is to provide greater clarity around the reasons for decisions on cases and to assist members of the public and advocacy organisations with their preparations for similar cases.
  • CLM also campaigned for law reform, and for the safeguarding of rights already enshrined in law, in areas such as education, housing, disability rights, social protection, employment and equality. We hosted three roundtable discussions on the Caravan Loan Scheme, mental health and the social welfare system and the practice of reduced timetables in schools.

Press Release: Increase in Demand for Mediation as Alternative to Going to Court, October 2019

Marking Mediation Awareness Week this week, Community Law & Mediation (CLM) highlighted the growing demand for mediation as an alternative approach to resolving disputes and one that enables people to reach an agreement outside of the courtroom.

Mediation is a non-judgemental, confidential process in which the mediators act as a “go-between” to re-open channels of communication between people involved in a dispute, helping them to reach an agreement that is acceptable to both sides. It is a cost-effective alternative to going to court and can provide a foundation for the parties involved to re-establish a positive relationship once the dispute is resolved.

CLM’s CEO, Rose Wall, commented:

We have observed a significant increase in demand for our community-based mediation service. Our panel of 40 volunteer mediators delivered 1,360 hours of free mediation services last year, helping to resolve more than 150 disputes. They dealt with a range of issues, including parental and family disputes, disputes between neighbours and in the workplace. We also received a number of referrals from the Dublin and Bray District Courts.”

Community law centres such as CLM provide a vital service. By facilitating free access to expert mediation, legal and education services we are making our communities more just and inclusive and empowering people to actively participate in society.

Mediation Awareness Week takes place from 7th to 12th October 2019. To find out more about CLM’s mediation service, visit www.communitylawandmediation.ie or phone (01) 8477804.

ENDS

For further information please contact Elizabeth Devine, Communications Manager, CLM. Tel: 01 847 7804 Mobile: 087 697 5677

Note to Editors

Community Law & Mediation (CLM) was established in 1975 as the first independent, community-based law centre in Ireland.

Today, CLM supports more than 3,000 people annually through its range of services, which include free legal advice and representation; information and education; and mediation and conflict coaching. It operates two Community Law Centres, CLM Northside (Dublin) and CLM Limerick, and partners with other organisations to provide outreach advice clinics around Ireland.

CLM campaigns for law reform, and for the safeguarding of rights already enshrined in law, in areas such as education, housing, disability rights, social protection, employment and equality.