Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of rents the family mediation service pay in each of its local services for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15830/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Family Support Agency is responsible for the provision of family mediation to separating couples in Ireland. The Family Mediation Service is a free service which enables couples, married and non-married, who have decided to separate or divorce to negotiate the terms of their separation or divorce with the help of a trained mediator. The Family Mediation Service currently has 16 offices countrywide.

A decision has been made, in principle, that the Family Mediation Service (FMS) will transfer from the Agency to the Department of Justice, Equality and Defence. This is in line with the Government's commitment to facilitate the use of mediation in family disputes in order to speed up the legal process, reduce costs and ameliorate the stress of contested court proceedings. The detailed arrangements for the transfer of the FMS will be progressed in consultation with the Agency and other stakeholders.

I have asked the Family Support Agency to compile the detailed information on rents paid in respect of the Family Mediation Service offices for each of the years requested and to forward it directly to the Deputy.