Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 4

Written Answers. - Judicial Separation Figures.

Alan Shatter

Question:

136 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline (1) the number of proceedings issued seeking a decree of judicial separation pursuant to the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989 in each of the years since the Act's commencement in (a) each of the eight Circuit Court areas, (b) the High Court, (2) the number of decrees of judicial separation granted in each of the years by the courts referred to in (a) and (b) and (3) in respect of decrees the grounds upon which such decrees have been made pursuant to section 2 of the aforesaid Act.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

In the legal year ended 31 July 1990, 528 applications for judicial separation pursuant to the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989 were made and 155 decrees were granted in the Circuit Court, while 27 such applications were made and two decrees were granted in the High Court. Figures for the legal year ended 31 July 1991 are not yet fully compiled but will be forwarded to the Deputy when they come to hand. The other detailed information sought in the question is not readily available and could be compiled only by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time.