Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I was the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when we brought forward the Family Support Agency based on a report on the family. That has since been underpinned by statute. The Family Support Agency has premises in most of the major urban areas in the country and provides a free confidential mediation service to couples who are in dispute. That is used regularly and is a significant reason many people no longer come to clinics or go to court, because they are using those services.

This is also the case with the Legal Aid Board, where there are disputes that do not go to mediation. A substantial effort has been made by those people involved in the legal aid system. The board has trained solicitors who are involved in collaborative law and alternative dispute resolution in order to prevent people from having to open up their dispute in open court.

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