multiple ssh connections

We have a lot of trouble with the fact that subversion needs to use
multiple ssh connections to do a
single svn update. Our firewall only allows one connection through
before you have to login to the firewall
again. (which is an incredible pain)
Also tortoisesvn doesn't seem to be integrated with an ssh-agent so the
windows users need to
type their username and password 3 times even when not going through the
firewall.

Directly accessing the repository files or using the pserver are not
really options for us, given the
need to administer users and open up the network ports etc.

Is there a way it can be reconfigured now to use only a single ssh
connection now or
should submit and issue for this to be fixed later?

-- Will