Three-year pilot for Children’s Court Advocate
The Government has launched tenders for two family-justice projects – including a new service aiming to give children accessible information about the legal process.
The Department of Justice says that the tenders for the Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project and the Family Law Reporting Project are part of its family-justice strategy.
by the Family Justice Oversight Group found that children wanted more information and to be given a choice in how to have their voice heard.
Voice of the child
According to the department, the Children’s Court Advocate pilot seeks to improve how the voice of the child is heard and considered in private family-law proceedings.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said that the project aimed to ensure that children were supported with “clear, accessible information” about the legal process, and provided with “meaningful opportunities” to express their views about decisions that affected them.
The pilot will initially be established in two District Court locations – Waterford City and Clonmel – and will apply to all applications made for guardianship, custody, and/or access.
A review will be carried out no later than 18 months into the project and, subject to the outcome of that review and availability of funding, it is intended that phase two will expand the scope of the pilot to include incoming Circuit Court divorce and judicial-separation cases.
It is expected that the total pilot period will be three years.
Transparency
The Family Law Reporting Project will produce and publish systematic reports on aspects of family-law cases, with the aim of enhancing transparency for the public about family-law proceedings.
The project is also intended to increase public understanding and awareness of, and confidence in, the judicial determination of family-law disputes.
“There is no comprehensive system in Ireland for regularly and systematically reporting on private family-law proceedings,” said the minister, adding that the project aimed to provide transparency for the public, while ensuring the right to privacy was upheld for children and parents.
Trends
It will collect information on family-law cases, analyse data, and report on trends.
The reporting project will also provide descriptions of cases as they unfold, detailing key aspects of each hearing attended, describing what kinds of orders are being sought, and the reasons given for those requests.
Information about both tenders has been posted on , and the closing date for submissions for both tenders is 15 September.