New Mayo Law and Family Mediation Centre opens

A new Law and Family Mediation Centre has been officially opened in Cavendish House, Castlebar.

Co-locating the Legal Aid Board’s former Law Centre and Family Mediation Office under one roof, the new Law and Family Mediation Centre will deliver enhanced access to justice for people in the region.

Legal Aid Board CEO Joan Crawford and Minister of State Niall Collins were on hand for the formal opening.

The Legal Aid Board provides a legal aid and advice service to those who qualify, and its Family Mediation Service provides a mediation service to families who are divorcing, separating or living apart at no cost. By now offering legal aid and family mediation services in one location, it aims to provide greater support to those who need it.

Speaking at the opening, Ms. Crawford said: “The Legal Aid Board has had a presence in Castlebar since 1985, and it is a great honour to mark the launch of the new Law and Family Mediation Centre. Each case resolved and each person supported signifies the importance of what we do, and this new centre is expected to assist more than 1,000 people in its first year of operation.

“I would like to thank the support of the Department of Justice and the minister who have given family law a real prominence especially with regard to the Family Justice Strategy, and the judiciary who work with us and play an essential role in upholding justice.”

Minister Collins said the centre will further enhance the work of the Legal Aid Board towards their mission to empower communities through accessible civil legal aid and family mediation services.

“The work of the Board is central to a number of reforms my department is implementing in the first Family Justice Strategy, in particular promoting the use of non-court options to help families resolve their problems, where possible and appropriate.”

More information at LegalAidBoard.ie.