Legal

Children’s representatives court fees vary widely, says CAG

New office will supervise the 91 Guardians ad litem operating in the state and work with them in ‘reducing expenditure on legal representation’

Some €117 million has been paid in fees to Guardians ad litem – appointed to represent the views of children who are involved in childcare proceedings – and their legal teams over the past seven years

Child guardians are being paid a “wide spread” of fees ranging from €127 to over €10,800 for individual child court cases, according to the state’s spending watchdog.

Guardians ad litem, known as GALs, are appointed to represent the views of children who are involved in childcare proceedings, such as custody disputes, or being taken into state care. The GALs often hire solicitors and barristers to help them in court.

In total, some €117 million has ...