Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 766: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the funding that is available from his Department for 2008 for organisations working in the area of marriage counselling; the criteria used to determine eligibility; if he will consider funding an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2470/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The scheme of grants to voluntary organisations providing marriage, child and bereavement counselling and related supports is administered by the Family Support Agency. The focus of the scheme of grants is on the development of support services in the community for families, to enhance stability in family life and to assist families and their members deal with difficult periods which they may experience. The aim of the scheme is to ensure an accessible, high quality service which is delivered at low cost to the client.

The grant is intended to meet the running costs of providing a counselling/ support service. Capital funding e.g funding for buildings is not available under the scheme. Similarly, the cost of training counsellors is not fundable under the scheme.

Financial support for the counselling grants scheme has risen from almost €7.5 million in 2004 to almost €11 million in 2008. Funding under the specific heading of marriage and relationships counselling has also increased dramatically in the last 4 years. In 2008 approximately €6 million has been allocated to marriage counselling.

The following criteria are taken into consideration in allocating the grant funding — The demand for the service: this includes the number of clients using the service, the capacity to deliver the service and the number of people waiting for an appointment.The quality of the service: this includes management and back-up support for the service and the qualifications and training of the counsellors.

The majority of organisations providing a counselling service have professional indemnity insurance. This is generally taken into consideration as one of the indicators of the standard and quality of services being provided by an organisation and is required with the grant application.

Under the 2007 scheme of grants for marriage, child and bereavement services, Retrovaille Ireland sought and received a grant of €15,000 towards the provision of marriage and relationship counselling.

The 2008 scheme was advertised in the national and provincial papers the week commencing 21st January 2008. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 22nd February 2008. Application forms have issued to all organizations that received funding in 2007, including Retrovaille.

Retrovaille's application for funding under the Scheme in 2008, including their application for funding to establish a regional service in Cork for the provision of marriage counselling, will be considered having regard to the available resources and the overall demand for funding.