Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the national average time for family mediation services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31857/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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.

There are 21 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.

The service assisted 1,497 couples in 2007. Waiting times for an appointment at a Family Mediation Centre depends on the office and the nature and number of mediation sessions required by couples availing of the service. On average the waiting time is 4 months. If people are able to take up a cancellation at short notice their wait would be shortened.

The average number of mediation sessions that couples attend range from three to seven. This depends on the complexity of their issues, level of conflict, and the availability of clients for regular appointments, among other factors.