Vol. 444 No. 7
12 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the marriage counselling service agencies that have received funding as promised in the 1994 Budget; the amount each agency has received; and when all moneys available will be disbursed.
13 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the voluntary agencies concerned with family law that have applied for funding through his Department; if such funding has been sanctioned; and if so, when the funding will be made available.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.
A list of the organisations which have sought funding under my Department's scheme of grants to voluntary counselling services is set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Payment of grants to organisations will be made under a new subhead in my Department's Vote. Government accounting procedures require that payments under a new subhead must await the formal passing of the Vote concerned by the Dáil. That Vote, which was considered by the Oireachtas Select Committee on Legislation and Security on 15 June last, is awaiting the approval of the House. Payments to organisations will be made very soon after the necessary approval of the Vote is given. No other voluntary agencies concerned with family law have sought payments from my Department.
Scheme of Grants to Voluntary Organisations Providing Marriage Guidance and Counselling Services — Schedule of Applicant Organisations.
(An application may cover one or more centres for counselling)
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, St. Catherine's Social Services Centre, Carlow.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Cana House, Cavan.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Clarecare, Ennis, County Clare.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Bantry, County Cork.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Cork and Ross Family Centre, Paul Street, Cork.
Counselling Centre, 7 Fr. Matthew Street, Cork.
Cloyne Centre of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Mallow, County Cork.
AIM Group, 32 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, 39 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2.
Clanwilliam Institute, 18 Clanwilliam Terrace, Dublin 2.
Gingerbread Ireland Ltd., 29-30 Dame Street, Dublin 2.
Marriage Counselling Service, 24 Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
Mater Dei Counselling Centre, Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3.
Northside Counselling Service, Bonnybrook, Dublin 7.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, All Hallows College, Dublin 9.
St. Brigid's Parish, Cabinteely, Dublin 18.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Inishowen, Carndonagh, County Donegal.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Derrybeg, County Donegal.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Teagasc Centre, Donegal.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
Family Ministry Centre, Raphoe Pastoral Centre, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Killarney, County Kerry.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Tralee, County Kerry.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Newbridge, County Kildare.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, James' Street, Kilkenny. Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Portlaoise, County Laois.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, 66 O'Connell Avenue, Limerick.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, St. Mel's Road, Longford.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Fair Street, Drogheda, County Louth.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Roden Place, Dundalk, County Louth.
Dundalk Christian Counselling Centre, Ardee Terrace, Dundalk, County Louth.
Family of God Community, Castle Street, Dundalk, County Louth.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Ballinasloe, County Galway.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Newtownsmith, Galway.
Galway Family Guidance Institute, Newtownsmith, Galway.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Tuam, County Galway.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Ballina, County Mayo.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Castlebar, County Mayo.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Charlestown, County Mayo.
Knock Counselling Centre, Knock, County Mayo.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Navan, County Meath.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Clones Road, Monaghan, County Monaghan.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Abbey Street, Roscommon, County Roscommon.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Charles Street, Sligo, County Sligo.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Tullamore, County Offaly.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Clonmel, County Tipperary.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Nenagh, County Tipperary.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Thurles, County Tipperary.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Social Services Centre, Tipperary, County Tipperary.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, 4 Georges Street, Waterford.
St. Brigid's Family and Community Centre, 37 Lower Yellow Road, Waterford.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Athlone, County Westmeath.
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Mullingar, County Westmeath.
Family Life Service, St. Brigid's Centre, Roches Road, Wexford.
I am at a disadvantage as I do not have the information set out in the tabular statement. It would be unreasonable to ask the Minister to give the names of all the agencies which will receive funding, but can he give me an estimate of the number of agencies and the amount involved? I appreciate that the Vote must first be passed by the House and while this delay may not seem long to us it can seem very long to those agencies awaiting funding.
Approximately 55 organisations have applied for funding. The funding to be provided in 1994 amounts to £750,000, an increase of 150 per cent on the amount provided in 1993. Clearance for the payment of a sum on account will be given when the Vote has been passed by the Dáil. The Vote was dealt with by the Select Committee on Legislation and Security on 15 June and it is included in the composite motion being debated by the House. Those organisations which have been approved will receive some funding, if not the full amount, as soon as possible after the Vote is passed by the Dáil. Under the normal procedure one moiety of the amount, approved is paid shortly after the approval of the Vote by the Dáil and quarterly payments are made thereafter. This procedure has been followed by other Departments in previous years and a similar procedure will be followed by my Department. I am aware of the pressing needs of some of the organisations and will try to ensure that there is no delay in payment.
Will the funding be exhausted by the agencies which are approved or will agencies which have had difficulty in submitting their applications have an opportunity to apply for funding later in the year?
I would have thought that any agency interested in receiving funding would have applied by now. I cannot say if all the funds available will be exhausted by the 55 agencies which have submitted applications. Obviously each agency will have to be examined to ascertain its position and the way it proposes to expend money. Any organisation which has not applied should submit an application to my Department as quickly as possible and before all the funds are exhausted. It should not be too late to submit an application at this stage.
Given that all parties say they have as their aim the strengthening of the institution of marriage and that, according to Government figures, five marriages break up ever day, will the Minister agree that a sum of £750,000 for the marriage counselling service agencies is ludicrous?
It is interesting that a Deputy from a party whose finance spokesperson repeatedly calls the Government a "tax and spend Government" should be calling for more expenditure. The Government fully supports the need to protect and assist families in difficulties and this is why the funding for the marriage counselling service agencies in 1994 has been increased by 150 per cent to £750,000. This increase has been welcomed by many of the major organisations involved in counselling; they have indicated to my Department that the substantial increase in funding will enable them to expand their services this year and in future. This is a huge increase and I am sure the Deputy recognises this.
If one looks at the percentage rather than the amount, the increase appears to be huge. We are trying to put forward constructive suggestions, yet the Minister continually tries to make party political points. He said that my party regards the Government as a "tax and spend Government", but he should bear in mind that when we use that phrase we are rightly referring to the amount of money spent in employing programme managers and others to help the Government put a spin on their policies.
Questions, please.
Will the Minister agree that some of this money would be better spent on vital services than on employing programme managers etc? Given our support for the institution of marriage, funding of £750,000 for the marriage counselling service agencies is pathetic.
I would not agree with the points made by the Deputy. The money spent on employing programme managers is very well spent and produces results.
For whom?
It enables Departments to carry out their functions in an efficient, practical way. In the long run it produces savings, because it enables legislation to proceed at far greater speed than would otherwise be possible. Deputy Currie knows that and while he may cast cold water on an increase of 150 per cent, amounting to £750,000 the agencies at the cutting edge in family counselling very much welcome and recognise this huge increase.
They would recognise an even larger one.
That has to be considered in conjunction with the increased allocation for legal aid and family mediation, indicating the true priorities of this Government. It compares with the percentage increases allocated by previous Administrations——
——of which the Minister's party formed part.
These areas were left languishing so far as civil legal aid and mediation is concerned, and there was one counselling centre in Dublin. Fair and objectively-minded people recognise that fact. The Deputy cannot get away from it; he knows he has a weak case.
