Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 28: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will make provision for the establishment of a number of pilot child and family centres to provide information and support to the families and children experiencing a difficult time through separation and divorce as called for by One Family. [8002/07]

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

The pre-Budget submission from the One Family organisation called for funding to be provided for a number of pilot family law and children's centres which would provide information and support services to families that have experienced breakdown and are affected by new family formation. As this proposal is primarily focussed on the provision of family law information and the legal impact of new relationships, it is of interest in the first instance to my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. However, the submission also calls for the expansion of non-adversarial options for families experiencing separation and divorce and specifically increased resources for mediation as a method of dispute resolution. My Department, through the Family Support Agency is responsible for the Family Mediation Service, a free, professional, confidential service for couples who have decided to separate. The Family Mediation Service assists separating couples to address the issues on which they need to make decisions, including post-separation living arrangements, finances and parenting arrangements which will enable children to have an ongoing relationship with each parent. With the assistance of a trained mediator couples look at these issues and, where possible, reach an agreement that meets both their interests and the interests of their children. When a couple has reached agreement, a family session is offered to parents with their children to discuss their new family arrangements in an encouraging and positive way. Couples can take the agreement prepared at mediation to their respective solicitors to have it formalised into a legal document. The Family Support Agency also provides financial support for a network of Family Resource Centres (FRCs). The aim of FRCs is, essentially, to help combat disadvantage by supporting the functioning of the family unit. The emphasis in FRCs is on the involvement of local communities in developing approaches to tackle the problems faced by the community and on creating successful partnerships between the voluntary and statutory agencies in the areas concerned. Centres provide services for lone parent families, young mothers and others considered in need of extra support. Services include the provision of information, advice and support to target families, the provision of education courses and training opportunities; and the provision of childcare facilities for those attending courses provided by the project.