Community Consultation Report Unmet Legal Need in Limerick Social Service Centre, Henry Street, Limerick Tel: (061) 536 100 Fax: (061) 536 101 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nclc.ie Community Consultation Report Unmet Legal Need in Limerick Limerick Community Law & Mediation Centre Social Service Centre, Henry Street, Limerick 3 Acknowledgements Table of Contents This report is the combined effort of a number of people whom we wish to acknowledge for their contribution. Acknowledgements 5 We would like to thank Helen Fitzgerald, of Paul Partnership, who gave so generously of her time and expertise 1 Background 7 to compile this report. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution made by Ros Palmer of the Northside 2 Introduction 8 Community Law & Mediation Centre who facilitated all Focus Group sessions. 3 Unmet Legal Need 9 We would also like to acknowledge the community and residents’ groups and organisations who supported this legal needs analysis, Southill Development Company Ltd., Our Lady of Lourdes Community Services Group, 4 Consultation Methodology 9 Family Support Initiative, Southill Family Resource Centre, Sophia Housing and Family Support, Focus Ireland 4.1 Facilitated Focus Groups with Community Residents 9 (Limerick), O’Malley Keyes Park Residents’ Group and Community Office, Carew Kincora Estate Management, 4.2 Survey of Community Organisations working in Regeneration Communities 10 Our Lady of Lourdes Estate Management, Carew and Kincora Concerned Residents Action Group, St Mary’s Community Centre, St Mary’s Aid Ltd., Moyross Community Enterprise Centre Ltd., Moyross Residents’ Forum 4.2.1 Profile of Community Organisation Survey Respondents 10 Ltd., Limerick City CDP Ltd., Moyross Community Companions, Barnardos (Limerick South), Ballinacurra Weston 5 Consultation Findings 12 Residents Alliance, Moyross Residents Alliance. 5.1 Legal Needs of Regeneration Communities 13 Particular thanks to Southhill Development Company, Our Lady of Lourdes Community Services Group, St Mary’s Community Centre and Northside Youth Café for the use of their premises and for their support for the Focus 5.1.1 Legal Issues 13 Group sessions. 5.1.2 Issues/Challenges Encountered by Clients/Target Groups 14 We would like to pay tribute to the law students and legal interns who volunteered their time to assist the Focus 5.1.3 Legal Rights, Entitlements, and Services 16 Groups sessions; Sarah Cleary, Franco Jombo, Dorcas Oyedeji, Ryenn Malone, Ian McHale, Lourde Mary Quigley, 5.1.4 Existing Service Provision 17 Mary Power, Lindsey Breen, Kate Linehan, Chloe Hogan, Dervla Clohessy, Rachel Whelan and Fergal McNamara. 5.2 Obstacles to Accessing Legal Services 19 Further thanks is due to the contributors of this study - the residents, workers and volunteers of Moyross, St Mary’s, Southill and Ballinacurra Weston - who participated in the Focus Groups and completed the legal needs 5.3 Options for Provision of Legal Services in Regeneration Communities 20 surveys and without whose valuable feedback this report would not be possible. 5.3.1 Mediation 22 Finally, we would like to express our appreciation and thanks to Limerick Regeneration and the Public Interest 5.3.2 Legal Education 22 Law Alliance (a project of FLAC) who have provided funding for this service. 6 Conclusions and Recommendations 23 Appendix 1: Socio-Economic and Demographic Profile of Consultation Areas 25 Appendix 2: Issues/Challenges: Specific Issues encountered by clients/target groups of community organisations 31 Moya de Paor Acting Managing Solicitor Caroline Keane Solicitor Northside Community Law & Mediation Centre Limerick Community Law & Mediation Centre 5 6 Limerick Community Law & Mediation Centre: Community Consultation Report - Unmet Legal Need in Limerick. Background 1 Introduction 2 Limerick Community Law & Mediation Centre is a Community Law Centre which was established in late 2012. This report presents the findings from a consultation process undertaken by Limerick Community Law & It aims to serve the needs of the Regeneration communities in Limerick, as well as residents of other socially Mediation Centre, in collaboration with Northside Community Law & Mediation Centre, with residents of, and and economically disadvantaged communities in Limerick, by providing legal information, advice, advocacy and community organisations working in, the Regeneration communities in Limerick City. representation services for those who otherwise cannot access legal services. Limerick Community Law & Mediation Centre is the first community law service to be established outside of Dublin. The Centre also aims to provide a community dispute resolution service as a means to promote positive dispute In Dublin there are two independent community-based law centres, Northside Community Law and Mediation resolution. The Centre is funded by Limerick City and County Council – Office of Regeneration, and the Public Centre and Ballymun Community Law Centre. There are also a number of other independent law centres such Interest Law Alliance (a project of FLAC1). as: FLAC, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Mercy Law Resource Centre, the Irish Traveller Movement Law Centre A Community Law Centre is a non-profit organisation, which works to reduce and remove barriers to the law on and the Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre. Whilst common legal issues arise for all independent law the basis that all people should be able to access basic legal information and advice regardless of their income centres, it was recognised that unique and specific legal issues arose in Limerick and that in order to ensure that and background. It works to identify and unlock the legalities, regulations, policies, and procedures that manifest the Centre best met the needs of the local communities it seeks to serve, a consultation process with residents, as barriers and obstacles to a fair and better life for all individuals in that Community. community workers and volunteers was a necessity. The establishment of the Law Centre came about from representations made by community representatives and The overall aim of the consultation process was to: activists in Limerick to establish a Community Law Centre, to address a very significant unmet legal need identified 1. Ascertain the legal needs of the communities in terms of areas of law. primarily within the Regeneration communities. The objective was to set up a Law Centre in Limerick based 2. Ascertain the views of the community in relation to the obstacles to accessing legal services. on the model of a community law centre already established in Coolock and Ballymun. A Steering Committee was set up, comprising of representatives of various community groups and other key stakeholders, to provide 3. Ascertain the views of the community regarding the types of legal services needed. guidance on the direction and development of the service. The Law Centre aims to promote community development and social inclusion by empowering local communities The consultation process focused on the following geographic communities in Limerick City: through the provision of various legal services. The Law Centre commenced service delivery in January 2013 4 Moyross. when it held its first legal advice clinic in Moyross. The Centre: 4 St. Mary’s Park. 1. Provides free information, advice, advocacy and representation to individuals and groups in the Regeneration communities and others who otherwise may not be able to access legal services. 4 Southill. 2. Provides community dispute resolution services. 4 Ballinacurra Weston. 3. Works to empower the community through education, research, and campaigns. All four communities have been designated as areas for redevelopment under the Limerick Regeneration Programme. As it is recognised that the communities as designated by the Regeneration Programme can The Law Centre, in partnership with various community groups in the four Regeneration areas, provides advice encompass more than the geographic confines of the areas (St. Mary’s Park and Ballinacurra Weston in particular), clinics on an outreach basis to residents on a range of areas of law. Northside Community Law & Mediation a broad, inclusive approach was adopted for the purposes of the consultation process. A socio-economic and Centre is responsible for the overall management of the Law Centre. demographic profile of each area is included in Appendix 1. 1 Free Legal Advice Centre. 7 8 Limerick Community Law & Mediation Centre: Community Consultation Report - Unmet Legal Need in Limerick. Unmet Legal Need 3 Survey of Community Organisations working in Regeneration Communities 4.2 For the purpose of this report, the term ‘Legal Need’ applies to the definition adopted by Ballymun Community A questionnaire survey was issued to 25 community organisations working in Regeneration Communities. Law Centre in the context of a legal needs survey carried out at the time of their establishment. Legal Need, in this 16 community organisations responded to the survey, representing a response rate of 64%.3 context, means empowerment so that citizens can first identify that they have a legal problem, and secondly, find The questionnaire sought to elicit information in respect of the following issues: a satisfactory non-legal solution to their problem should they wish to do so. Thirdly, they require information to pursue that option and finally, where appropriate, obtain legal advice and representation and the wherewithal to 4 Role of the community organisation in relation to providing