Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 95: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the demand for family mediation services; if he has satisfied himself that this demand will continue to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43274/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Family Support Agency has responsibility for the Family Mediation Service, a free, professional and confidential service for couples, married and non-married, who have decided to separate or divorce and who together want to negotiate the terms of their separation or divorce with the help of a trained mediator. Family mediation assists separating couples to look at the resources and options open to them and to reach an agreement that meets the interests of both and the interests of their children.

The Family Mediation Service has a total of sixteen centres nationally. There are full-time Family Mediation Service centres in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin and part-time Family Mediation Service centres in Athlone, Castlebar, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tralee, Waterford, Wexford and Blanchardstown, Marino and Tallaght in Dublin. There are 26 professionally trained mediators working for the service all accredited by the Mediators Institute Ireland, the professional accrediting body for mediators in Ireland.

Demand for the Family Mediation Service has always been strong and the expansion of the Service from 2 offices in 1997 to its present number of 16 reflects this Government's commitment to provide a nationwide service. Up to the end of November 2006, the Family Mediation Service has helped 1,480 couples this year. The total number helped in 2005 was 1,430.

This year, I opened two new centres, one in Letterkenny to enhance accessibility to the service in the North West and one in Portlaoise to similarly expand the service in the Midlands. In addition, the Service has recently opened a new pilot part-time office in Ballymun to deal with an increased demand in that particular area. The Service has also increased the opening hours in a number of the part-time centres around the country in order to continue to meet demand and reduce waiting times.

I am pleased that funding for the Family Mediation Service in 2007 will be increased to €3.9 million from €3.7 million this year. This increase will help the Service to continue to meet its demand.